Plans to resolve Durban's 7000 water pipe leaks

THE eThekwini Water and Sanitation (EWS) unit is expected to conduct a clean sweep of the outstanding backlog of 7 000 pipe leaks from July, subject to budget availability.

- ZAINUL DAWOOD

The EWS presented its status of water supply report for May 2025 to the eThekwini Executive Committee (Exco) yesterday. The municipality intends to create a separate management entity for the EWS with a planned Water Turnaround Strategy (WTA) to resolve its problems.

Sibusiso Vilane, the acting HOD for EWS, said the municipality was ranked “very poor” when it came to the Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) interpretation. This was in the category of unavoidable annual real losses (UARL) and current annual real losses (CARL). The ILI defined poor as an urgent need for leakage control and asset renewal.

With demand exceeding supply, Vilane said that reducing Non-Revenue Water is crucial for improving the financial and operational performance of EWS.

He said once the budget for the new financial year kicked in, they would be focusing on the backlog of leaks.

Vilane also touched on plumbing contractors that cost the city an estimated R56 million per month. He said a review of the policy was in place for contractors, including upskilling many of them to meet requirements.

According to Vilane, the EWS has been hard at work installing restrictors, generators, and meters at reservoirs.

He said they were looking at a new management approach to streamline the EWS and hold people accountable.