Before the first summer storms roll in over Gauteng, Watergate wants property owners to find out what is happening below ground. The Fairmount based water leak specialist, in business since 1981, is urging homeowners, sectional title schemes and commercial property managers to check the state of their pipes now. The service it is putting forward is CCTV pipe inspection, which shows the condition of water, sewer and stormwater drain pipes without anyone lifting a paving brick. JOHANNESBURG, October 2026.
The season turns on the Highveld
On the Highveld, October brings the change of season. Winter has been dry for months, and then the first heavy afternoon storms suddenly load up drains and stormwater systems. Over the dry spell, pipes may have cracked, shifted or let tree roots in. Owners often only find out when water backs up, collects where it should not, or soaks into walls and foundations. Watergate’s position is simple: these faults are much easier to find before the rain than in the middle of a downpour.
A camera view of the line
Watergate’s technicians use specialised CCTV pipe inspection diagnostics to assess water, sewer and stormwater drain pipes and report on their integrity, quickly and accurately. The camera shows the real state of the line, including cracks, separated joints, root intrusion and blockages that are starting to form. Owners can then decide what to do based on what is actually happening underground, not on guesswork.
The CCTV pipe inspection service covers Johannesburg, Pretoria and the wider Gauteng region. It runs alongside the company’s main specialty, leak detection, and the two services together show a property owner where water is escaping and what is causing it.
Locating leaks without damage
Watergate counts itself among the original leak detection specialists in South Africa. To pinpoint leaks accurately, its technicians use sophisticated acoustic listening devices and gas tracking equipment, which saves owners from digging around to find the source. The method is non-invasive and non-destructive. The company sums it up as no holes in the wall, no excavations and no headaches.
Watergate takes on residential, commercial and industrial work. Its specialised pipe location service can trace a pipe even when the owner has no idea where it runs or how deep it lies. The team identifies, locates and repairs leaks for homeowners and residential complexes, and also for office buildings, shopping malls, clubs, schools and other institutional facilities.
Equipment is regularly updated and calibrated so that positioning stays accurate, and the technicians receive extensive training. Watergate also points out that it is fully licensed and that its team are registered plumbers. Property managers weighing up leak detectors will find that trained people working with calibrated equipment are what turn a suspected leak into a confirmed location.
Fixing pipes from within
If an inspection finds a damaged line, Watergate can often repair it without excavation. Its pipe relining service uses zero dig technology to renew old or burst pipes from the inside. There is no digging, chopping or mess, and owners avoid the damage excavation can cause to gardens, driveways, floors and other services, along with the cost of repairing it.
Non-pressure drainage is handled with Blueline, Watergate’s structural solution. It covers stormwater pipes, sewer pipes, trade waste pipes, vertical drain stacks, vent systems and sanitary systems, and can provide a structural repair even where no existing pipe is left. According to the company, Blueline fixes leaks, prevents tree root intrusion, helps prevent blocked drains and improves fluid flow rate. Watergate adds that independent tests show the system has greater strength properties than new pipe.
Pressurised steel and copper lines are handled with Redline, a non-structural relining alternative. This applies to water mains, fire suppression systems, HVAC systems, compressed air systems and chemical piping. Redline coats the inside of the pipe to extend its performance and usable life. Watergate says the process takes a fraction of the time of traditional re-piping and leaves property and landscaping undisturbed.
Watergate has also introduced AquaPea, a Smart Approved product that takes a different approach to pipeline repairs using advances in polymer technology.
Acting before the rain
Most people ignore their stormwater and sewer lines until something fails, and failures tend to come with the start of the rainy season. Roots that pushed into joints over the dry months, debris that settled in the line and small cracks that widened through winter can all act together once heavy rain falls. An inspection before the wettest months lets owners schedule a repair when it suits them instead of facing an emergency.
Pressurised water pipes follow the same pattern. A hidden leak that has been running for months adds to the water bill every day it goes unrepaired. Sectional title complexes, schools and commercial buildings with long underground runs can see a real difference in running costs, and in the condition of the building, when that leak is found early.
More than forty years in the trade
Watergate was established in 1981 and has over 40 years of experience in the industry. The company says it was one of the first in South Africa to offer pipe relining services, with the goal of fixing problems effectively and for the long term. Its philosophy is to find the problem fast and fix it smartly without creating new ones, and it applies that approach equally to residential complexes, corporate clients and individual homeowners.
The Johannesburg office keeps long hours: 6am to 10pm from Monday to Thursday, 6am to 9pm on Friday, 7am to 7pm on Saturday and 7am to 6pm on Sunday.
Owners who want a CCTV pipe inspection, a leak detection visit or a relining assessment booked before the summer storms can find more information at https://watergate.co.za/.
About Watergate
Watergate specialises in water leak detection and pipe relining and operates from 36 Livingstone Street, Fairmount, Johannesburg. Since its founding in 1981, the company has offered residential, commercial and industrial leak detection using acoustic listening devices and gas tracking equipment. Its services also include specialised pipe location, CCTV pipe inspections, trenchless pipe relining with its Blueline and Redline products, and AquaPea polymer pipeline repairs. All of its detection methods are non-invasive and non-destructive, and its team are licensed, registered plumbers.
Media Contact
Watergate
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +27 11 485 2245
Website: https://watergate.co.za/
