eThekwini warns of 24-hour water interruption after Wiggins main bursts; list of affected areas

eThekwini Municipality has warned residents of an interruption to the water supply after a burst on the 750mm-diameter steel Wiggins High Pressure Supply Main near Wright Place. The municipality said emergency repairs would take at least 24 hours and that full reservoir recovery could take about a week.

What happened and immediate response

Municipal teams were on site conducting excavation and other work to access and isolate the damaged section of the Wiggins High Pressure Main. The municipality said isolation of the affected section is required to enable emergency repairs.

“Repairs are expected to take at least 24 hours,” the municipality said.

Managing supply while repairs are carried out

The municipality said reservoir levels and demand trends were being closely monitored. Depending on available storage, outlets may be temporarily shut to preserve water and assist with system recovery once repairs are completed. The municipality warned that some areas may only receive water during peak-demand periods while the system is being managed.

Recovery and relief measures

Once repairs are completed, the municipality said reservoir recovery is expected to take approximately one week, depending on demand and system conditions. The municipality also said water tankers would be dispatched to provide relief to affected communities during the interruption.

Affected areas and reservoirs

The municipality listed the following reservoirs and the areas expected to be affected.

Woodlands 1 and 2 reservoirs

• Austerville
• Clairwood
• Mobeni
• Montclair
• Sea View
• Wentworth
• Woodlands
• Yellowwood Park

Bluff 1, 2, 3 and Bluff South reservoirs

• Austerville
• Bayhead
• Brighton Beach
• Cave Rock
• Fynnlands
• Grosvenor
• Jacobs
• Merewent
• Ocean View
• Stanvac
• Treasure Beach
• Wentworth

South Ridge Reservoir

• Bulwer
• Glenwood
• Westridge

Cato Manor Reservoir

• Carrington Heights
• Glenmore
• Glenwood
• Sea View
• Umbilo
• University
• Westridge
• Wiggins

Ridge View Reservoir

• Bellair
• Blackhurst
• Cato Manor
• Coedmore
• Hillary
• Mount Vernon
• Part Bellair
• Ridge View
• Sea View
• Umkhumbaan
• University
• Wiggins

Ridge End Reservoir

• Parts of Morningside

North Ridge Reservoir

• Parts of Morningside
• Overport

St Thomas Reservoir

• Parts of Overport
• Essenwood
• Berea

Apology

The municipality apologised for the inconvenience caused by the interruption.