The irrigation furrow is indeed ‘functioning heritage’, and as such forms part of the Overstrand Heritage Survey (Baumann et al. 2009). Currently the leiwater system, which is primarily routed along the orthogonal street grid of the proclaimed Heritage Area of Stanford, is maintained by the Stanford department of the Overstrand Municipality. As much of this management involves minor repair work and maintenance, none of this is referred to the Stanford Heritage Committee for comment, oversight or approval. The cumulative effect of these ongoing alterations to the leiwater is the gradual degradation of the integrity, authenticity and heritage significance of the system. Indeed, it does not appear that the Municipality considers the leiwater system to be of any heritage significance, or a vulnerable resource that requires specific, proactive maintenance and care. It is not deemed necessary that the leiwater system be protected by proclamation as a Provincial Heritage Site. Stanford is well served by its active and effective Conservation Body, Stanford Heritage Committee, and the SHC believe that formalised grading and inclusion of the site on the Heritage Register should be sufficient measures to ensure its proper management, under their mandated oversight.
