Johannesburg Water warns Dainfern residents not to drink tap water after major pipe burst

Johannesburg Water has warned residents of Dainfern Golf Estate, Dainfern Ridge and Dainfern Valley not to drink tap water after a major pipe burst and repair work raised contamination concerns, according to The Citizen (Fourways Review).

What happened

According to The Citizen (Fourways Review), a major pipe burst in Dainfern Golf Estate left more than 1 200 homes without water for four days. Ward 94 councillor David Foley told reporters that approximately 1 235 homes were affected while repair teams worked to access and fix the damaged pipe.

Damage discovered during repairs

The excavation needed to reach the burst pipe was deeper than expected. Foley said:

“It’s a massive deep excavation, and even the TLB that they had first could not get deep enough to get to the pipe. So they brought in the excavator, which is a massive machine, and that could actually get to it.”

During the excavation, additional infrastructure was damaged. Repair work damaged a fibre line and a sewerage pipe, and The Citizen (Fourways Review) reports the damaged sewerage pipe contaminated the water pipe to some extent, prompting concerns about water quality.

Response from Johannesburg Water

According to The Citizen (Fourways Review), Johannesburg Water crews carried out extensive repairs and flushing operations and conducted on-site water quality testing. The outlet reported that chemicals were added during the testing process.

Johannesburg Water issued a notice on social media on June 16 advising residents not to drink the water. The notice stated:

“[Our] water quality testing team is on site collecting water samples for testing. Customers are urged not to consume the water until the water quality testing process has been completed and water has been declared safe for consumption.”

The notice also said an alternative water supply was being provided to the affected areas and would remain available until test results confirmed the water was safe for consumption.

Advice for residents

• Do not drink tap water until Johannesburg Water confirms it is safe.
• Use the alternative water supply being provided until testing is complete.
• Follow updates from Johannesburg Water and local officials for clearance notices and further guidance.

Local reaction

Despite the disruption, Foley praised Johannesburg Water’s response. He said:

“The water utility has been excellent in what they’re doing. They’re making sure the systems are flushed. They also made sure that there was testing and chemicals thrown in the water.”

According to The Citizen (Fourways Review), residents were relieved to have water restored to many households even as testing and safety checks continue.