MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Water was spraying out at high pressure last week from the PetroSA pipeline opposite the entrance to Hartland housing estate and near Monte Christo housing estate, which are on the R102 road on the George side of Mossel Bay.
The spray started on Wednesday, 16 April, according to two concerned members of the public who contacted Mossel Bay Advertiser.
The next day, Thursday last week, the water was still spraying out.
PetroSA told Mossel Bay Advertiser on Tuesday, 22 April, that this was part of its maintenance of the pipeline.
The wide spray from the pipeline was about 300 metres from the road, opposite Hartland housing estate, and could be seen from a distance.
Photograph
One of the people who contacted the Advertiser took a photograph of the fountain with a zoom lens from Hartenbos Heuwels.
The Advertiser called the PetroSA spokesperson at 11:30 on Thursday, 17 April, to ask when the water would be stopped.
That Thursday, Mossel Bay Municipality confirmed on enquiry from the Advertiser that its Water and Sanitation department reported the leak to PetroSA the day before, on Wednesday afternoon, 16 April.
PetroSA responded to the Advertiser with a statement at 17:40 on Tuesday this week, 22 April.
Wolwedans Dam
The statement read: "PetroSA is supplied with raw water from the Wolwedans Dam. The pipeline is routed over a servitude which runs from the dam to the Klipheuwel pumpstation, alongside Monte Christo estate and then to the Bartelsfontein reservoir near PetroSA."
PetroSA noted: "On 16 April, the water supply to PetroSA was temporarily suspended in order to effect essential maintenance to the line.
"It is necessary to drain the water in the line before the maintenance can commence.
"As part of this process, a scour valve on the pipeline was opened and the water is under significant pressure at this point, which results in a large visible spout of water.
Large volume
"The entire content of the pipeline has to be drained and due to this large volume, the visible waterspout/stream has continued for several hours."
The statement continued: "The activity to drain the line has been completed and maintenance will commence on Tuesday, 22 April."
It concluded: "It should be noted that this is planned activity and no disruptions due to the downtime are expected.
"PetroSA continues to undertake its operations in a responsible manner which considers the sustainability of the environment."
When the Advertiser reported on the matter on Facebook and on its website on 17 April, it was the most read article at the time.
Facebook readers complained about the loss of water and asked why measures were not implemented to prevent this loss.
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