The residents of the City of Johannesburg might have to wait until the end of December 2025 in order to receive reliable, uninterrupted and sustainable water supply.
This is according to a presentation shared by Joburg Water capital expenditure portfolio manager Joseph Mopala.
Mopala was speaking during a media briefing by the state-owned entity this week, where the entity was giving an update on the state of water supply in Johannesburg and progress made in addressing water interruptions in some parts of the city.
Joburg Water provided an overview on the reservoirs and towers that are still under strain and in the process of recovery.
It also gave an update on interventions to stabilise the system in order to provide consistent water supply to residents.
Mopala said Joburg Water has implemented medium- and long-term measures on the new Crosby pump station reservoir and Brixton reservoir to ensure sustainability of water supply.
Multi-million rands construction projects
The construction of the new Crosby pump station reservoir, he explained, is anticipated to commence in September 2024 at a cost of R130-million.
The duration of the project is anticipated to be 16 months, ending in December 2025.
According to Mopala, the project is currently at the tender process stage and it will be presented for evaluation at a meeting in November.
He said the Brixton reservoir tower is under construction and will be completed in March 2025 at a cost of R316-million, noting that the duration of the project is 24 months.
In recent years, the residents of Johannesburg have been subjected to water cuts due to Joburg Water’s infrastructure challenges at the Hursthill, Brixton and Crosby reservoirs.
Mopala’s presentation showed that Joburg Water’s bulk infrastructure was constructed about 60 years ago and has become unreliable.
“Additionally, its operational capacity has been eroded by the organic population growth and accelerated growth due to densification driven mainly by the demand for student accommodation in the area,” Mopala said.
“A combination of these factors has led to acute and persistent water outages in the water district.
“Residents, businesses and schools experience water outages for weeks on end whenever the Rand Water Eikenhof pump station experiences operational difficulties, which have been exacerbated by rolling electricity loadshedding.”
Joburg Water, which has 95 reservoirs and 34 towers, continues to supply roaming water tankers in areas affected by water shortages.
