{"id":267543,"date":"2025-10-16T13:31:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:31:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/?p=267543"},"modified":"2025-10-16T13:31:22","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T11:31:22","slug":"leak-tied-to-water-challenges-infrastructure-failures-in-kariega","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/udexpress\/leak-tied-to-water-challenges-infrastructure-failures-in-kariega\/","title":{"rendered":"Leak tied to water challenges, infrastructure failures in Kariega"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

KARIEGA <\/strong>– Over a year after first reporting on the persistent water leak plaguing Van Riebeeck Hoogte residents, UD Express<\/em> asked follow-up questions in detail to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, seeking clarity on whether this unresolved infrastructure failure may be contributing to broader water supply challenges facing Kariega.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the Fairbridge Heights Reservoir allegedly running dry over the weekend and some residents continuing to endure flooded yards, damaged roads, and thousands of litres of potable water wasted daily, critical questions have emerged about the potential connection between prolonged leaks and reservoir levels, the true volume of water being lost daily, and why technical assessments have yet to yield concrete repair timelines. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Ward 51 Councillor Roelf Basson, the water leak in Van der Graaf, Van Riebeeck Hoogte in Kariega has persisted for between 18 months and two years. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There was a lot of water running down Barend Street, coming from the Fairbridge Heights Reservoir, and it took me close to a year to get the water division to fix some leaks on the reservoir side to stop the flow of water that was running down Barend Street. So that was one problem,” Basson explained. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The second problem is between Van Riebeeck Hoogte and Fairbridge Heights, which is the current challenge we are facing. What exacerbated the situation were the recent floods of June and October.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basson described a complex infrastructure challenge involving a canal behind houses in Goede Hoop Avenue in Fairbridge Heights, which serves as a channel to direct excess water or overflow from two reservoirs through a pipeline that runs beneath a resident’s home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There is a servitude for that stormwater pipe that goes between those two houses in the street. Unfortunately, the owner of that house has now built a carport over that servitude, which is causing difficulty in resolving the problem.”\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

@ecexpressnews<\/a> The Ward Councillor alleges this leak in Kariega has persisted for 18 months to 2 years, with little to no help from the municipality. . . . . #fyp<\/a> #explorepage<\/a> \u266c original sound – PE Express<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote>