Residents across Verulam continue to grapple with ongoing water supply challenges, while significant infrastructure upgrades are underway to improve the reliability of the area’s water network.

During a recent inspection of key water infrastructure, community representatives highlighted concerns about water losses, ageing infrastructure, pump failures and maintenance backlogs that have contributed to intermittent supply issues affecting thousands of residents.

Verulam receives a significant portion of water from Nagle Dam via the Durban Heights Water Treatment Works, where raw water is treated before being transported through the Northern Aqueduct to the strategic Mountview reservoir.

From there, water is distributed to several secondary reservoirs, including TP1 and TP3, which supply various suburbs throughout the area. Ward 106 councillor, Johnson Chetty, explained that Verulam sits at the tail end of the distribution system, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions elsewhere in the network.

“From Durban Heights to Mountview, there are numerous off-takes feeding other areas before water reaches Verulam. When there are problems along the system, communities at the end of the line often feel the impact first,” he said.

A major concern raised during the inspection was the volume of water lost due to leaks and ageing infrastructure. Residents and officials pointed to several locations where water has reportedly been flowing unchecked for weeks, despite repeated reports to municipal departments.

A visit to the Dawncrest area revealed a plethora of unresolved bursts and leaks contributing to the loss of supply, particularly in Wren Way, where a resident had been complaining of a major, recurring underground leak outside their property, causing water to enter from underneath her boundary wall.

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According to the resident, the issue was first recorded during the January 2024 flood, a disaster that her family’s home severely flooded, and resulting in them facing a hefty repair bill amounting to R50, 000.

One resident in Brindhaven claimed a leak near his property had persisted for more than six weeks, while visible water flow was observed entering his home, and in order to prevent further water damage, he had to create a makeshift trench to channel the water entering his yard, and straight into a drain on his property, however, the persistent leak had already done damage to his property, with mold and cracks spreading across the walls of his home.

The situation is compounded by municipal maintenance challenges.

According to information shared during the inspection, contractor shortages and staffing constraints have delayed non-emergency repairs, with available municipal plumbers reportedly focused on critical burst pipes and emergency work.

Despite these challenges, several major projects are underway to improve the resilience of the water network and increase supply.

A pipeline upgrade project is currently being implemented to strengthen supply links between Hazelmere Dam, Grange Reservoir, and the Mountview system.

Contractors are relocating and upgrading sections of pipeline infrastructure, although unforeseen underground services and flood-related changes to the landscape have extended project timelines.

Project representatives indicated that completion, initially expected within a few months, may now take up to six months due to engineering complexities. In addition, a multi-million-rand refurbishment programme is underway at reservoir facilities, specifically the Mountview reservoir.

The project includes the replacement of ageing pumps, upgrades to telemetry systems and the installation of standby generators to ensure continued operation during electricity outages.

During a site visit to one of the pumping stations, Chetty confirmed that a pump failure had disrupted supply on Wednesday night, and by the following morning, the remaining water supply had been lost to bursts littered throughout the area.

However, an overview of the pumps’ conditions painted a grim picture of how much-needed the upgrades are, with several at the Mountview reservoir appearing to show water leaking from the seams.

Chetty had welcomed the investment but remained concerned about ongoing water losses and delayed repairs, arguing that repairs would be fruitless if the system is still compounded by bursts that lead to supplied water being lost.

With demand continuing to grow and infrastructure under pressure, community leaders say addressing water leaks, improving maintenance capacity and completing upgrade projects remain critical to securing the region’s future water supply.