Rand Water, the bulk water supplier, has called on people not to build on its pipelines.
Rand Water spokesperson Mike Nxasana said in a statement on Tuesday that since 1994 people have been encroaching into the company’s servitudes to erect dwellings, causing disruptions in water delivery.
”This is not only illegal but it’s also dangerous, there is a potential danger to people’s lives should a pipe burst occur,” said Nxasana.
”On top of that, people squatting on these servitudes make unauthorised connections to bulk water pipelines to gain access to drinking water.
”Water pressure in these pipes is very high and a minor leakage can lead to a full pipe burst with serious repercussions,” Nxasana said, adding Rand Water could be held responsible if that occurred.
He also said there was always conflicting interests between the company and residents of informal settlements.
Rand Water has set up a team to liaise with all spheres of the government and leaders from the settlements over this issue, said Nxasana.
”The objective of this project team is a two-pronged strategy aimed at enabling Rand Water to continue to operate and serving the public without endangering anyone’s life,” he said.
Nxasana said the team would ensure that communities who might tamper with the pipelines were prevented from doing that and those already encroaching into the servitudes were stopped and resettled elsewhere. — Sapa