After four days with an interrupted water supply, residents in Montclair and Sea View, south of Durban, have water returning to their pipelines.   

Four bursts in a pipeline near South Coast Road led to several water shut-offs in south Durban suburbs. Norman Gilbert, eThekwini Ward 64 councillor, said the municipality’s water department replaced a flange on the main trunk line on Monday.

“This repair was essential and could not be delayed any longer. The main reason for the delay has been a valve that needed to be isolated before work could proceed safely. The team made steady progress and the water supply resumed,” said Gilbert. 

He explained that it was challenging, though, because Montclair and Sea View suffered the effects of water loss starting on Wednesday when they had the first burst pipe on South Coast Road. 

He said this was followed by a second burst pipe, also on South Coast Road on Thursday evening, which was eventually repaired on Friday evening.

He explained that the area experienced a third pipe burst on Roland Chapman Road on Friday afternoon, which was repaired on Saturday afternoon.  To add to residents’ problems, a fourth burst occurred in Sarnia Road on Saturday night that was repaired on Sunday afternoon-residents did not have water because plumbers shut the line to carry out the repairs on the bulk main line. 

“The residents of ward 64 had a rough four days, but they are resilient and soldiering on.  They deserve better, as do all residents of eThekwini. We have to start rebuilding this city,” he said.

Meanwhile, the municipality stated that its aggressive turnaround strategy to reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) is beginning to yield positive results. The municipality stated that the current reduction is a positive step towards achieving the target to reduce the overall NRW.

The NRW in the 2024/2025 financial year, first quarter period, July to September, was 55.8% while In the 2025/2026 quarter, the NRW has reduced to 52.9%.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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