Persistent water leaks in Caneside left unattended

A series of water leaks along Schoolside Crescent in Caneside, Phoenix, continue to flow unchecked, despite multiple complaints from one resident dating as far back as May.

Although two of the leaks were reportedly repaired by municipal workers, several others remain unresolved, contributing to the worsening water shortage that has plagued Phoenix and surrounding areas in recent months.

The resident, who requested anonymity, initially reported the problem in May this year and shared a timeline of efforts to get the municipality to respond.

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“We started getting water leaks from outside our yard entering my property, and called the helpline. We left messages, spoke to people, and were issued reference numbers. While I was following up on the references, I also noticed leaks on the road and reported those too,” the resident said.

The resident alleged that municipal teams eventually responded to some of the roadside leaks, but according to the resident, they left an open trench where the work had been done, and completely ignored the leaks affecting their private yard.

Despite repeated calls and follow-ups, including direct communication with an official reportedly in charge of the water leak section, the problem remains unresolved.

“He asked me to send reference numbers, which I did. I even sent pictures and videos of the water leaking into my property. Eventually, he stopped taking my calls and responding,” the resident added.

After being continuously ignored, the resident consulted their regular plumber, only to be told the leak was not within their property lines.

“He said there’s no water leak on my side of the property – it’s on the council side. But by law, he claimed that he can’t repair anything on the council’s side,” the resident explained.

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Frustrated and desperate for a resolution, the resident began documenting the leaks with photos and videos, even offering to walk municipal officials around the area to show them the damage firsthand.

The stagnant water pooling in yards and on the street not only represents a loss of a scarce resource but poses a potential health and infrastructure risk.

The resident is requesting urgent intervention from the municipality as Phoenix is currently grappling with water supply challenges, and unattended leaks like those in Schoolside Crescent highlight the urgent need for more responsive and accountable municipal service delivery.