Airlock preventing water flow - Rand Water
Rand Water says the pocket of air in a pipeline is the cause of water flow restrictions in parts of the province.
This comes after the water utility on Friday completed a 58-hour planned maintenance project to tie in two valves between the A19 and B14 Pipelines.
In a statement on Saturday, the utility stated that due to the system being empty for three days it is bound to have airlocks.
"To mitigate this matter, the system may require to be momentarily decommissioned, to release the airlock that was assembled during the maintenance process. Simply put, there is a need for the water utility to decommission certain pipelines to release air into the system.
"This intervention will assist in ensuring that the newly restored pipelines are not damaged due to airlocks that are confined in the system. An airlock is a pocket of air in a pipeline that prevents the flow of water, and it happens when bubbles gather in the pipeline."
The water utility urged customers to avoid areas that are close to what appear to be leaking pipelines as they could lead to fatalities.
"It is also important to mention that Rand Water pipelines are under extreme pressure and for that reason, consumers are warned to avoid areas that are close to what appear to be leaking pipelines as they may lead to injuries or fatalities.
"Consumers are urged to adhere to the cautionary warning", the statement read.
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