Johannesburg Water gives a glimpse into the new Brixton reservoir and tower construction project

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30-05-2024
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Northcliff Melville Times
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Johannesburg Water is undertaking a construction project to enhance water storage capacity and supply in the Commando system.

Johannesburg Water (JW) gave behind-the-scenes access to its ongoing infrastructure project to improve the water supply in the Commando system, at a cost of almost R270m.

The project includes the construction of a new Brixton reservoir and tower, as well as the revamping of the Crosby pump station. Construction, currently sitting at 34% complete, is expected to be finished by April next year, well within the 18-month timeframe.

The site for much of the work is on the premises of the Brixton Primary School.

The Commando system, which comprises the Brixton, Crosby, and Hursthill complexes, has been facing water supply problems for years due to factors such as the city’s growing population and often badly maintained ageing infrastructure.

JW highlighted the significance of boosting water storage capacity and improving supply to the feeder zones. The Brixton reservoir and tower will have a capacity of 26 megalitres and 2.2 megalitres respectively. The Crosby pump station will be upgraded to deliver at least 400 litres per second.

The Brixton reservoir will not only provide a reliable backup during operational failures but also significantly increase the overall storage capacity.

The spokesperson for JW, Nombuso Tshabalala said, “The existing infrastructure in the Commando system, constructed in 1917, has exceeded its useful lifespan. As a result, the Brixton and Hursthill area has been experiencing water shortages, which have impacted critical institutions such as the Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa hospitals. To address this, additional water capacity was required.”

The project manager, Nqobizitha Ndimande, shed light on the limitations faced by the Crosby pump station and the need for a comprehensive overhaul. “Currently, water is supplied to the reservoir zone in Crosby via a 700-diameter pipeline connected to the Commando meter. However, ageing infrastructure and space constraints will call for a complete transformation.”

The plan now involves replacing the existing pump station with two state-of-the-art stations. One will pump water to the Brixton reservoir, while the other will cater to the Hursthill resident area.