Bloemfontein residents are in the grip of a panic as the city faces another water crisis after a third main pipe burst this afternoon.
The main water pipeline supplying Mangaung with water first burst on Thursday November 16. It was predicted that it would take 36 hours to restore the pipeline. After the repair, the pipe burst again on Saturday November 18, followed by today’s burst pipe.
An official at Bloemwater confirmed that a third pipe has burst and that the whole city could possibly be without water soon. According to a statement by the Mangaung Metro Municipality only the southern parts of the city are affected.
The municipality has also apologised for any inconvenience and undertook to keep residents up to date with the situation.
Qondile Khedama, Mangaung Metro Municipality spokesperson, said: “We dispatched our team and they are working in over-drive to ensure that work is completed in time. The repair work is expected to take 24 hours.”
This follows an earlier message sent out by the Democratic Alliance in the Mangaung Metro. According to the message the damage has not yet been accessed, which makes it difficult to estimate when the water flow will return to normal.
“As the situation stands, the whole of Bloemfontein will be without water by this evening. There is constant communication between the DA and Bloemwater to find out what the situation is, and pressure is also put on the Mangaung Metro Municipality and Bloemwater to solve the problem as soon as possible.
The city has already set up several water points as well as ablution facilities at various shopping centres to make the crisis bearable.
According to Khedama water tankers and Jojo tanks have been allocated to the affected areas as follows:
Pellisier – Opposite Engen Garage
Pellisier – OK Shopping Centre
Fichardt Park – Dave’s Meat Market and Pick n Pay Hyper
Fleurdal – Pick n Pay, Kay’s Centre
Fauna – Checker’s Hyper and Game Stores
Louriepark – Local School
Gardenia Park – Shopping Complex
Makro – Filling Station
Universitas – Shopping Complex
Jeretha Oosthuizen
