Water is a vital commodity for human life. To that end, a pipeline is a critical component to transport water from the source to end-users. The pipeline system is a highly complex network in and of itself. As a result, the dependability of such a component is critical in ensuring the stability and security of an uninterrupted water supply. The purpose of this research is to investigate the causes of premature failures in the South African water pipeline system. To accomplish this goal, this study examines the factors causing premature pipeline failures using existing literature and archival data. According to the findings, the major causes of premature water pipeline system damage include both internal and external corrosion, damage by others (vandalism, sabotage, and theft), miscellaneous, operator error, weld, mechanical damage, equipment, joint leaks, over-pressure and pig traps. It is expected that the findings of this study will help various stakeholders save billions of rand that are spent to replace damaged pipelines.