Joburg Water to build mega reservoir in Linksfield
Upon completion, the structure will be completely underground.
A 37.5 mega litre underground reservoir is on the cards for Linksfield Ridge.
Morninghill, Senderwood and Bedford Park residents will be affected by the construction.
According to Mr Nqobizitha Nzimande of Joburg Water, the construction is scheduled to begin in the next 18 months.
He said the aim of the structure is to expand capacity and meet future demand.
Mr Nzimande was speaking at a public meeting held last Tuesday at Huddle Park.
He said although the construction of the structure is not a problem, Joburg Water is concerned about the environmental effect the project would have as the location is environmentally sensitive.
“We have hired environmental experts who conducted studies in the location and have put together a report with recommendations. Part of the mandate for the constructors is to minimise the damage to the environment. We promise to try and retain the landscape and leave the area as we would have found it. Existing flaura and fauna has been identified and will be relocated,” said Mr Nzimande.
He said upon completion, the structure will be completely underground.
“You will not even know where it is. We will take photographs of the ‘before’ state and when construction is completed we will restore everything the same way we would have found it,” he said.
Mr Nzimande said during the construction, the damage caused by the burst pipe from the existing reservoir in 2013 will be rehabilitated.
“We will also close the trench formed by the burst and do maintenance on the existing surrounding structures,” said Mr Nzimande.
Although the meeting was open to the public, only two residents from Bedfordview attended.
Access to the site, which will be up the koppie, will be through John Avenue up to Pulford Lane in Bedford Park.
One of the engineers, Mr Sihle Zwane, said there will be blasting to create the cavity.
“However, we will have to use low impact. The effect, if any, should be mininal to neighbouring residents and schools,” he said.
“Once commenced, the construction is expected to take between 18 and 24 months,” he said.
Mr Nzimande said public liability insurance will also be available for the duration of the construction.
