Water outage tracker launched on The Bluff
Also read: Water outages loom over The Bluff
BRRA vice chairperson Allison Schoeman labelled the project a strategic step in harnessing community power to address long-term service delivery failures.
'By mapping this outage, we hope to better understand water reticulation patterns and identify weaknesses in the system. Community participation is critical to building evidence-based pressure for change, both now and in the future,' said Schoeman.
Tracking in real time:
The tracker allows residents to log valuable information about their water supply status, such as:
• When the water cut off in their area
• If supply restarted briefly and failed once more
• Which zones were not influenced
• The current water pressure (off, low pressure or restored)
This data is analysed to determine how water is being distributed, where bottlenecks are occurring, and which infrastructure zones may be at risk of recurring problems.
Why participation still matters:
Schoeman urged residents to fill out the tracker even after their water supply has been restored. Post-outage data plays a key role in:
•Analysing restoration timelines
•Revealing inconsistencies in water distribution
•Highlighting areas that experience repeated disruptions
The association will continue to use the tracker as a long-term monitoring tool to better prepare for future outages and support community-led interventions.
A long-term solution:
Rather than a short-term solution, the Water Outage Tracker will be a long-term resilience tool. The BRRA will use the data collected to:
•Develop a street-by-street water distribution map
•Make a case for infrastructure enhancement
•Facilitate better communication and preparedness during future service interruptions
'We are not waiting for answers. We are building them — together,' Schoeman added.
Accessing the tracker:
Residents can access the tracker via the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciP-nku7v2kgQ5RjvKCcAPov8Tbv3aQ1sSgo0XnltKKAGINg/viewform
Everyone is welcome to report, even if their supply is not presently interrupted. Every contribution provides a more accurate picture of the greater situation.
A reminder to report officially:
It is important to note the BRRA tracker does not substitute official municipal reporting. Residents still need to report water outages to eThekwini Municipality through:
Email: Eservices@durban.gov.za
WhatsApp: 073 148 3477
Call centre: 080 13 13 013
eThekwini mobile app
For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Search for aerobatics pilot to resume off Durban beach on Friday
Family, friends and colleagues have paid tribute to a well-known aerobatics pilot who is missing after his light aircraft crashed into the sea on the Durban beachfront on Thursday. Search efforts for the pilot — whose name is known to TimesLIVE — of the light aircraft which crashed at Durban's Battery beach was called off on Thursday evening due to poor visibility and will resume on Friday. KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda said the seasoned pilot from Johannesburg, who also flew commercial airlines, was the only one in the aeroplane. Friends and family posted tributes to the pilot, who participated in the 'Missing Man Formation' as a tribute to the late Capt Lorrie Raath at the Virginia air show on Sunday. 'Nothing ever prepares you for this. I can't believe it. Rest in peace, my friend. It was always an honour sharing the skies with you. A gentleman and an aviator of note,' said one friend. Another said it was a 'sad day for South African aviation with the passing of a legendary aerobatic pilot. Our condolences to his family and friends.' The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said the ZS-AEC Extra 300 plunged into the sea performing its final display at about 1.45pm, prompting an extensive multipronged search operation throughout the day. NSRI Durban duty coxswain Lorenzo Taverna-Turisan said an extensive search operation co-ordinated by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre took place at North Beach about half a nautical mile offshore after the aircraft accident. Taverna-Turisan said NSRI rescue craft from Durban and Umhlanga were nearby when the incident occurred. 'Despite the immediate and swift response and the ongoing extensive sea and air search operation, including police divers, metro police divers, a police helicopter and the NSRI rescue craft, there remains no signs of the missing man.' Police search and rescue divers conducted underwater searches for the pilot along with three NSRI rescue craft. Additional support was provided by various paramedics, eThekwini municipal lifeguards, eThekwini fire and rescue services and aviation authorities. The accident happened during a display and air show for the youth and public organised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after a three-day aviation global summit — held at the Durban ICC. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said the accident was an 'unfortunate end to a successful event'. 'The search and rescue team and other emergency services are doing everything possible to find the missing person.' He confirmed the family had been informed but maintained the matter was a sensitive issue that was also guided by strict protocols associated with the aviation authority but confirmed that proper analysis would be provided at the right time. Themba Thabethe, from the Accidents and Incidents Investigation division at CAA said high tides had scattered some debris from the plane over several kilometres just hours after the accident but confirmed that authorities were working on recovering it. 'There has been some wreckage that has been recovered and we're trying to reconstruct the accident scene. What makes our lives difficult is that because of the tide, some of the debris has already spread about 2km to 3km away.' Police and the CAA will investigate the accident.
The Citizen
30-07-2025
- The Citizen
Fire detectors installed at Dakota Beach informal settlement
ETHEKWINI deputy mayor Zandile Myeni visited the disaster-prone Dakota Beach informal settlement in Prospecton on July 29 to oversee the installation of fire and smoke detectors aimed at improving safety for residents. Also read: Fire devastates Dakota Beach informal settlement The devices, donated by Astron Energy, are part of a broader effort to address the ongoing risks faced by communities living in high-density, informal housing areas. Dakota Beach has experienced several devastating fires over the years, with many families losing homes and belongings. 'We are taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of fire and improve emergency response. We're grateful to Astron Energy for supporting the municipality's efforts to protect our most vulnerable residents,' said Myeni. The installation marks the beginning of a phased rollout of safety technology across other informal settlements in the region. Municipal officials and local disaster management teams were on site to demonstrate how the detectors work and educate residents on fire prevention measures. Astron Energy representatives said the donation forms part of their corporate social investment initiatives, focusing on community safety and resilience. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- The Citizen
Bluff Residents and Ratepayers Association launch drive to beautify Bluff Showgrounds
THE Bluff Ratepayers and Residents Association (BRRA) have unveiled a new project to transform the Bluff Showgrounds into a family-focused green oasis, replicating the internationally renowned Durban Botanic Gardens. Also read: Plans underway to restore The Bluff Showgrounds Under the theme 'Let's grow it together,' the project aims to reclaim and revitalise the land to offer a safe, serene and welcoming place for the whole community to use. Allison Schoeman, the vice chairperson of the BRRA, said, 'The goal is to create a serene, garden-like environment where families can enjoy picnics, children can play safely, and residents can find a moment of peace in nature.' She added that the campaign was inspired in response to growing demands from the community for a public place that is safe. 'The beach is not always a safe or accessible alternative for children due to increasing incidents of anti-social behaviour,' said Schoeman. How the community can get involved: To make this vision a reality, the BRRA is calling on residents, businesses and local organisations to support the project by donating the following items: Old plant pots Plants and seedlings Paint, gardening tools and landscaping materials Skilled services such as landscaping, painting and building Resources to refurbish toilet facilities She added that in addition to the materials they need volunteers who can bring their expert green thumbs or Picassos who can paint or anyone who would like to help. The BRRA also made a special appeal to help improve the children's playground at the showgrounds. The association is calling on companies and sponsors to join in through their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives to help make this dream a reality. Drop-off location and contacts: Donations may be dropped off at 66 Smith Drive, Bluff. For more information or to find out how to get involved, contact Allison Schoeman on 076 223 3480 or email [email protected]. Time frame: The plan for the drive is to be ongoing for the next couple of months. Schoeman said they have multiple phases planned and regular updates will be shared on BRRA social media to keep the community engaged and informed. For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
