Western Cape municipality begins master plan to combat water loss

The Drakenstein local municipality in Paarl, Western Cape, has begun a 20-year master plan to replace old or ageing asbestos pipes in the region with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes, which will achieve significant success in reducing water loss throughout the municipal area. Water leakage and non-revenue water have become two of the biggest problems facing South African municipalities in recent years. The Drakenstein local municipality’s master plan will be led by the municipality’s water services senior engineer André Kowalewski, and is in line with the municipality’s vision of being a ‘city of excellence’.