A dramatic video showing a major water pipe burst along the M19 in Reservoir Hills, Durban, went viral on Saturday.
Story Summary:
- A major pipe burst on the M19 in Reservoir Hills, Durban, caused water to flood nearby informal settlements.
- eThekwini Municipality has isolated the aqueduct and is assessing the damage to begin repairs.
- The City has cautioned against building on water pipelines, citing risks to safety and infrastructure maintenance.
Watch: M19 pipe burst caught on camera
The footage captured water gushing from a central aqueduct, flooding informal settlements in the area.
The eThekwini Municipality has since released a statement confirming that the burst bulk pipeline has been isolated.
Crews from the City’s Water and Sanitation Unit are currently on site assessing the damage and preparing for repairs.
Water flow has been stopped, reducing the immediate risk of further flooding.
However, the Municipality has not yet disclosed what caused the aqueduct to rupture.
An investigation is underway to determine the source of the failure, with findings expected to inform future preventative measures.
In addition to addressing the pipeline break, eThekwini’s emergency team is evaluating the impact on nearby informal settlements, which bore the brunt of the flooding.
The Municipality has issued a strong warning against encroachment on pipeline servitudes, highlighting the dangers posed to human life and property.
Officials emphasised that building on or near water pipelines puts residents at risk and complicates the maintenance of essential infrastructure.
“To identify pipeline servitudes, residents should look out for marker poles painted in orange and yellow for bulk pipelines and blue for reticulation pipelines,” the Municipality advised.
It also urged residents to ensure all building plans are approved to avoid constructing in restricted areas.
