Phoenix councillors shared mixed reactions following the eThekwini Municipality’s decision to install Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs). They said the installations will further burden ratepayers and instead, the municipality should focus more on stolen meters, underground bursts and lack of resources. This commitment was made during an Executive Committee meeting (EXCO) on Tuesday, 17 June.
Ward 49 councillor, Tino Pillay, said the installation of water restrictors will be a huge challenge for the already burdened ratepayers of their community. “Sadly, we are at this stage of the water restrictions due to the inefficiencies of our municipality. The municipality should instead be focusing on the backlog of bursts, underground leaks, stolen water meters and lack of resources to expedite the repair process, which in turn depletes our precious water resources which we pay for.”
Pillay said the limitation of water supply will not alleviate water woes but will ensure residents have a constant stable supply. He added that car washes and places of business where excessive water is utilised should be monitored. “These should be our first point of limitation and the department should be educating our communities on the stringent use of our water. Although not warmly welcomed, this programme is a necessity now and we are forced into this direction.”
Ward 48 councillor, Michelle Lutchmen, said these installations must be looked at with cautious optimism. “On the one hand, it’s a step in the right direction. Pressure management is a crucial aspect of reducing water losses and can certainly help stabilise water supply. If implemented effectively, PRVs can reduce burst pipes, conserve water, and ultimately lead to a more reliable service for residents. However, the devil is in the details and the execution.”
“We’ve seen many commitments from the municipality regarding water infrastructure, and residents are understandably wary. The true measure of this commitment will be in the transparency of the installation process, the speed of implementation, and the tangible improvements experienced by the community. The initiative is long overdue as Phoenix, along with many other parts of eThekwini, has been plagued by severe and prolonged water outages for an unacceptably long time. For years, residents have endured erratic supply, low pressure, and outright cuts, often without adequate communication or clear timelines for restoration. The fact that we are only now seeing a commitment to this is a testament to the municipality’s reactive rather than proactive approach to a critical service delivery issue.”
Lutchmen said this initiative is extremely crucial for the Phoenix community as recent reports highlighted that Phoenix was among the worst-hit areas, with residents enduring days, weeks, and even months without consistent water supply. There have been instances where taps run dry for weeks on end, leading to protests and immense frustration.
The eThekwini municipality said their Water and Sanitation Unit would intensify measures to enhance water management through various initiatives, which included installing strategic Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) in key network zones. Management from the Water and Sanitation Unit presented their action plan to the Executive Committee during the meeting.
The city said: “PRVs help to manage pressure effectively and reduce incidents of bursts and leaks which results in excessive water losses. The plan is in line with the water turnaround strategy that seeks to reduce non-revenue water until it reaches acceptable standards. Other initiatives on the action plan include maintenance of PRVs, restrictor installation, rehabilitation and refurbishment of district metered areas, performance-based contracts for leak detection and repairs, and installing data loggers and trunk main pressure sensors. These initiatives are in the procurement process.”
