Africa-Press – South-Africa. The leaks at the Hurst Hill 2 reservoir will be fixed over the next four months, Joburg Water announced this week.
The reservoir, which has been leaking for many years, is crucial to the proper functioning of the Commando water system. It has been on bypass for years, leading to major water outages for communities from Albertville, Auckland Park, Claremont, Coronationville, Greenside, Newlands, Emmarentia, Parkhurst, Parktown, Westbury and Westcliff.
This week Joburg Water said the repairs, which include internal repair and lining of the 23 ML reservoir, the installation of an in-situ lining of 600mm diameter bypass pipeline and replacement of associated valves and fittings, will start on Monday, 1 December and be completed on 9 April 2026.
JW said customers in Melville, Emmarentia, Richmond, Westdene, Westcliff, Auckland Park and Parktown West will be affected. The entity assured customers that they will be receiving water (on bypass) for the 129-day duration of the project. More than 5000 properties will be affected for the duration of the project, JW said.
Ward 87 councillor, the DA’s Kyle Jacobs, said while the work is essential and long overdue, it will require the reservoir to be placed on bypass so that teams can work safely inside.
“Unfortunately, this will impact water supply and may result in periods of low pressure or no water. JW has indicated that there are no alternative means to augment supply during this period, making intermittent disruptions unavoidable. At this stage it is still unclear how the high-lying areas will be affected until the bypass is fully commissioned and operational,” he said.
He said the rehabilitation of Hurst Hill 2 forms part of a broader upgrade of the entire Commando system, which includes the introduction of a pump station to supply the Hurst Hill reservoir complex, replacing the current gravity-fed arrangement.
More good news for residents in the Commando system catchment area is that both the new Brixton reservoir and tower should come online soon.
Initially scheduled to open in April this year, the project has been delayed by first construction mafia concerns, then non-payment of the contractor which led to the suspension of work on the site. It was slated to be opened at the end of October, but now the end of December seems to be the target.
The project cost R285 million.
Jacobs said the Brixton reservoir has been completed and has passed structural testing. He said JW is now testing the water in the reservoir, and it has passed the 24-hour test. Results for the 48-hour test are being collected before the reservoir can start supplying the system, he said.
“The tower is still undergoing structural testing to make sure there are no issues or leaks before it is commissioned into service,” Jacobs said.
The last component of the upgrades to the Commando system, a new pump station, rising main and Rand Water supply line at Crosby, should be completed by the end of 2026.
This article is produced by Our City News, a non-profit newsroom that serves the people of Johannesburg. – By Yvonne Grimbeek
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