ABERDEEN NEWS - Several residents, frustrated at the often poor flow of water in Aberdeen, have drawn the Advertiser's attention to the dreadful state of the water storage tanks in the area.

The tank near the Vodacom tower in Lotusville is in a particularly bad state, with several areas of corrosion leading to a constant drizzle of water falling, and a fountain spouting out of the front of the tank. A small furrow has even been dug to divert this water to the river!

At the main tank in town, in Parliament Street, there are also frequent leaks, and water is often seen running down the street.

When water restrictions are in place (although not enforced), it is very frustrating for residents to see these huge volumes of drinking water literally flowing away to the waste.

Another cause for concern is the lack of security at the concrete water reservoirs above Lotusville. These three reservoirs are surrounded by fencing, topped with razor wire.

From the beginning, the razor wire coverage seemed to be incomplete, and now many parts of the fence are no longer topped with this. The fence itself is now also broken in several places, and residents are concerned about the security of the site. The threat of theft of fittings or equipment is very real, and there is also the worry that the watersupply could be contaminated if there is unrestricted access to the area.

Broken fencing and missing razor wire at reservoirs.

Lack of proper maintenance is seen to be the cause of both these problems.

A response on both issues has been requested from the Municipality.

With regards to the water leaks, Acting Communications Officer Wilca Smith reported that the Lotusville tank is in the process of being eliminated with the construction of a concrete reservoir, while the town tank is to be repaired. No indication of the time frame was given, and no response was received concerning the fencing at the reservoirs.

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