Residents in high-lying neighborhoods of Kimberley experienced low tap pressure or complete water outages on 5 August 2026, following a burst pipe on Waterworks Street in New Park, according to the Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Repairs and Municipal Response in New Park
The disruption began early in the morning when mechanical teams shut down pumps at the Newton Reservoirs to tackle the infrastructure failure. According to Thabo Mothibi of the Sol Plaatje Municipality communications unit, repair work on the leaking 450 mm diameter steel pipe proved to be a daunting task. Crews cut out the damaged section and utilized Viking Johnson couplings to join the pipe during ongoing site operations throughout the day.
Did You Know? The repairs centered on a 450 mm diameter steel pipe located in Waterworks Street within the New Park suburb, requiring the temporary shutdown of pumps at the Newton Reservoirs.
Gradual Restoration of Water Supply
By late evening, municipal officials confirmed that repair work on the steel pipe concluded successfully. Pumps at the Riverton Water Treatment Plants are currently running, and teams are scheduled to switch on the pumps at the Newton Reservoirs soon. According to the municipality, residents in high-lying areas and all other affected zones should soon enjoy their usual high tap pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the water supply interruption in Kimberley?
The disruption was caused by a burst steel pipe in Waterworks Street, New Park, which required mechanical teams to shut down pumps at the Newton Reservoirs for repairs.
When was the water supply expected to be fully restored?
Initial estimates targeted completion before 11:00 and later by 20:00 on 5 August 2026. Municipal updates confirmed that repair work concluded by 21:00 on the same day.
Which areas experienced low tap pressure or no flow?
Residents in high-lying areas of Kimberley experienced low tap pressure to no flow while repair work was underway.
How has your household coped with unexpected municipal utility maintenance and temporary pressure drops?
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