Residents slam SA Water over its response to burst water mains flooding of properties

NORTHEASTERN suburbs residents left in limbo and with muddied, waterlogged homes following a series of burst water mains have slammed SA Water’s response to the incident.

• Three burst water mains flood large parts of Campbelltown, Paradise

NORTHEASTERN suburbs residents left in limbo and with muddied, waterlogged homes following a series of burst water mains have slammed SA Water’s response to the incident.

A deluge of putrid water, from four ruptures in Paradise, Campbelltown and Newton on Monday afternoon, inundated several houses, forcing residents from their homes and facing possibly months of disruption before they can return.

It emerged on Wednesday that one of the damaged houses on Willow Drive at Paradise has an estimated $150,000 repair bill.

RAA Insurance said it was working with four flood-affected customers in Paradise.

“We are taking care of four RAA members in Paradise who were flooded by the burst water mains including one property with major damage estimated at over $150,000 dollars,” RAA claims manager Hayley Cain said.

“They were taken completely unaware.”

SA Water says it is investigating the cause of the multiple ruptures.

Chief executive John Ringham was grilled on breakfast radio on Tuesday when he said SA Water had no responsibility if there was no evidence of negligence.

“The legislative position is that if there is no negligence shown then these are deemed not to be SA Water’s responsibility but we will work very closely with those customers and their insurance companies to ensure that their properties are put back into good order as quickly as possible,’’ Mr Ringham said on FIVEaa.

SA Water refused to answer specific questions following Mr Ringham’s radio interviews and instead later released a broad statement.

In the statement, SA Water said it had arranged temporary accommodation for some residents and others had chosen to stay with friends and family.

“We are working with insurers to provide temporary accommodation until affected residents can return to their homes,” the statement said.

“We will be speaking with customers without insurance to determine their needs.”

A visit on Tuesday morning from Water Minister Ian Hunter to Willow Drive at Paradise, where about six homes and two cars were flooded, did little to stem the anger among residents.

Linton Schiller wades through water near his house flooded in Willow Drive. Picture: Roger Wyman

Linton Schiller, whose home was flooded by up to 30cm of water when the torrent cascaded down Willow Drive, said a visit from Mr Hunter “didn’t achieve a single thing, I didn’t appreciate it’’.

“SA Water people are going to come and see us later but they were supposed to be here on Monday night,’’ he said.

“In general, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens, eventually.’’

Diane Vereyken, who lives with her tiny dog Taloola on Willow Drive, said she had insurance but was worried if it would cover all her losses.

She said SA Water must accept responsibility to help out.

Lauren Schiller in her bedroom after the flood damaged carpet was removed. Picture: MATT LOXTON

“It was a burst water main that did it so why shouldn’t they (pay)?” Ms Vereyken said.

“I’m totally overwhelmed with the mess (and) the amount of work that’s involved in getting it back to normal — it will be months.

“I’m insured with the RAA and they are a very good company but then again, this is SA Water’s fault so (insurance) shouldn’t come into it, should it?”

On Monday night, residents also criticised the time it took for SA Water to respond to reports of the burst pipes and to stem the flow of water.

SA Water declared a $279 million profit in the past financial year. The report also estimated the value of its assets at $13 billion.

Over the past four years, SA Water has spent an average $51.4 million per year on maintenance and repairs.

Opposition infrastructure spokesman David Pisoni said: “It is not acceptable for SA Water to oversee a century-old, crumbling pipe system while it delivers record dividends to the Weatherill government”.