Water Distribution Network Upgrades In 2023

Pipe bursts in the aging Betty’s Bay water distribution network have continued over the past year. These have resulted in repeated disruptions in the water supply to large sections of Betty’s Bay and sometimes to the whole village.

This is not only a local phenomenon. Throughout the country asbestos cement (AC) pipes are being replaced as these decades-old systems are long past their use-by dates. The replacement of AC pipes with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes provides a system with low frictional resistance, greater flexibility and hence greater reliability.

It is the Overstrand Municipality’s plan to replace all the old AC pipes in Betty’s Bay and elsewhere, but this is limited by the funds that have been made available.

Contractors Martin and East were appointed in November 2022 and are due to commence with a pipe replacement contract in January 2023. A total of R18,95 million is budgeted to be spent on the contract, which is to cover Betty’s Bay, Kleinmond, Pringle Bay and Hermanus (Table 1).

TABLE 1: 2023 PIPE REPLACEMENT PROGRAMME

The areas where the pipe replacement will be carried out have been selected as being the priority areas based on the history of pipe breaks and the resulting disruption to the water supply.

In Betty’s Bay there are five clusters where replacement will take place (Table 2). Residents will be advised when their particular area will be affected. The contract is due for completion in September 2023.

 TABLE 2: BETTY’S BAY PIPE REPLACEMENT AREAS

Certain of the higher lying areas in Betty’s Bay experience the additional problem of having low pressure and being the last to have the water supply restored after a pipe break has emptied the network. We are continuing to engage with the municipality in order to bring relief to these areas.