Pipe burst Genevafontein – stay away and save water

Issued George Municipality, 13 March 2021 (3.30pm update)

Residents urged to use water sparingly and stay away from major pipe burst in Genevafontein

George Municipality urges all residents of George to use water sparingly and to stay away from the area where a water supply pipe burst is being attended to in Genevafontein.

A section of Herriot Street, north of the Geneva Café intersection, collapsed following an underground pipe burst. Water has been gushing from the site for several hours but has started subsiding as pipes above the site are starting to run clear following the closure of the relevant valves.

The pipe supplies the town’s main water treatment works, which means that water cannot be pumped into the facility’s holding dams at the moment. The municipality appeals to residents to use water sparingly to ensure that potable water supply is sufficient while the supply line is disrupted. Properties in the eastern suburbs of George, including Kraaibosch and surrounds, may experience some drop in water pressure.

Civil engineering teams are on site and will be working the rest of today and through the night to make the necessary repairs. A traffic incident earlier in the day has delayed repairs and has been referred to the SAPS (nobody was hurt in the incident).

Herriot Road below Stander Street is closed and the public is warned to not visit the area on foot and to stay well clear of the entire area as it may be unsafe. Traffic officials are on sight and residents of the houses in the repair zone must proceed with extreme caution and only if alternative access is not possible. Spreeu Street is being monitored and may be closed if necessary.

Sandbags have been placed above private properties to assist with water run-off and a stormwater team is ensuring that drains are kept clear.

The municipality will update residents as repairs progress.