New water restriction tariffs hit Cape Town: what you need to know

[Archer]

That I won't believe.

Our office admin lady got this (extract from the letter):

• The City is not liable for any impact on or damage to private infrastructure resulting from the rationing or associated operations.

edit:
I also saw somewhere that solar geysers could suffer serious damage if left without incoming cold water. But I know next to nothing about these systems

 

[daveza]

The City is not liable for any impact on or damage to private infrastructure resulting from the rationing or associated operations.

I doubt that will stand up in court.

 

[Archer]

I doubt that will stand up in court.

Was Eskom liable for damage to private items during loadshedding? Seems like the same thing to me

 

[xrapidx]

The sudden shutting down of a water feed will cause a drop in pressure. When the valve opens again the pressure spike depending on what was "on" at the time such as a washing machine etc, could cause pipes to move resulting in what is called water hammer, and that could easily lead to leaks in joints a burst pipes in older houses.

And I've just spent a fortune redoing my plumbing .

Definitely need a tank.

 

[xrapidx]

edit:
I also saw somewhere that solar geysers could suffer serious damage if left without incoming cold water. But I know next to nothing about these systems

I was chatting to someone who mentioned they could explode.

 

[xrapidx]

I doubt that will stand up in court.

Who do you think has more resources? Us or the government (who will be using our money)

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

I was chatting to someone who mentioned they could explode.

Weird, mine has a "holiday mode" setting that basically stops it from using any grid-electricity (i.e. letting it cool off more than usual in the night) as well as pressure valves to prevent explosions.

I'd be quite upset if it explodes due to not having incoming cold water despite being specifically designed to counter an overheating problem.

 

[xrapidx]

Weird, mine has a "holiday mode" setting that basically stops it from using any grid-electricity (i.e. letting it cool off more than usual in the night) as well as pressure valves to prevent explosions.

I'd be quite upset if it explodes due to not having incoming cold water despite being specifically designed to counter an overheating problem.

He did mention it depends on the quality of the panels.

I'd imagine the ones in the low cost housing areas won't be of quality... but then again, they're probably not affected by this.

 

[Rouxenator]

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

The sudden shutting down of a water feed will cause a drop in pressure. When the valve opens again the pressure spike depending on what was "on" at the time such as a washing machine etc, could cause pipes to move resulting in what is called water hammer, and that could easily lead to leaks in joints a burst pipes in older houses.

No it won't.

 

[Rouxenator]

Exactly why we see so many pipe bursts these days.

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Exactly why we see so many pipe bursts these days.

OLD pipes under roads, not pipes inside houses.

 

[Geoff.D]

OLD pipes under roads, not pipes inside houses.

But the principle remains the same! Now that remote controlled valve is right on your property at your water meter. So the problems with on and off cutting of water in the main distribution is now in the face of every single person.

 

[Rouxenator]

OLD pipes under roads, not pipes inside houses.

All pipes - and it results in water loss. Something they are trying to hype into a rarity using the media.

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

But the principle remains the same! Now that remote controlled valve is right on your property at your water meter. So the problems with on and off cutting of water in the main distribution is now in the face of every single person.

What? Where?

Secondly, CoCT is talking about gradual pressure drops and increases. No one is slamming shut or suddenly opening valves, FFS.

 

[Geoff.D]

What? Where?

Secondly, CoCT is talking about gradual pressure drops and increases. No one is slamming shut or suddenly opening valves, FFS.

Not according to few reports on the forum. Some have already said they get no water not just a drop in pressure ...

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Not according to few reports on the forum. Some have already said they get no water not just a drop in pressure ...

In higher lying areas a drop in pressure may cause them to get no water. But the conversation is now being steered away from the original debate re. pipes bursting because of the opening and closing of "remote controlled valves on my property"...

Again: where are these valves? and AGAIN: no valves are suddenly opened or closed causing pipes to burst. If and when waters is cut, the valves servicing those areas will be closed and opened slowly. This is Water Supply 101

 

[Geoff.D]

In higher lying areas a drop in pressure may cause them to get no water. But the conversation is now being steered away from the original debate re. pipes bursting because of the opening and closing of "remote controlled valves on my property"...

Again: where are these valves? and AGAIN: no valves are suddenly opened or closed causing pipes to burst. If and when waters is cut, the valves servicing those areas will be closed and opened slowly. This is Water Supply 101

I agree .... but then why the concern ? And why is the Council so adamant about protecting themselves?

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

I agree .... but then why the concern ? And why is the Council so adamant about protecting themselves?

The same reason that ESKOM protected themselves during the rolling blackouts. This is to avoid claims that may or may not be due to water restrictions etc.

So I am not concerned that I will have any damaged pipes in my house during any water restrictions.

 

[Scooby_Doo]

so who takes out the garbage? And just FYI there is poverty in Switzerland 7.7 % of the citizen live below the poverty line making about 1 out of every 13 people 'poor'.

https://www.thelocal.ch/20140715/one-in-13-swiss-residents-in-poverty

or a more recent link with essentially the same statistics:

https://www.thelocal.ch/20170516/report-half-a-million-live-in-poverty-in-switzerland

I loled, poverty is when someone is earning less than 2239 Francs per month... Which is R30628,40.