Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Mpho Moerane has confirmed that a multi-million rand plan is in place to maintain and upgrade the City of Johannesburg’s water network. Photo: File
Load shedding could impact efforts to restore water reservoirs and tower to full capacity and usage.
As load shedding returns, residents affected by the weeks-long water outages caused by challenges at Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station power failures are worrying once again. On 8 June the City of Johannesburg’s water entity, Johannesburg Water (JW), put out a statement reminding the public that the power outages caused by load shedding will have an effect on water supply as the Hursthill, Brixton and Crosby systems continue to improved slightly. According to JW areas still affected by the water outages are those in high-lying areas and both Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital and Helen Joseph Hospital remain impacted.
As the City waits for the situation to improve, they have acknowledged the efforts of the public, organisations and companies that have come on board to assist them. Gift of the Givers struck gold when their mission to drill for water at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital yielded results. On 3 June, at 72 metres below ground the NGO team found 7 000 litres of water followed by finding another 18 000 litres of water per hour at a depth of 83 metres. This water was and will continue to be pumped directly into the hospital infrastructure using booster pumps if proved to be fit for human usage and consumption.
The Shoprite Group has also jumped in to help as they recently donated 5 000 litres of bottled water to Johannesburg hospitals affected by the water cuts. A statement by the group read, ‘The Group will use its Act for Change Fund till-point donation facility to raise funds for Gift of the Givers’ efforts at the affected hospitals. At the same time, the Shoprite Group will be donating 5 000 litres of bottled water. The Group’s Act for Change fund is perfectly positioned to help the public make quick and easy donations to assist in times of disasters like these.” Shoprite shoppers will be able to donate towards this cause at the till point in any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave by contributing any amount starting at R5 to their purchase.”
Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Mpho Moerane has confirmed that a multimillion rand plan is place to main and upgrade of the City of Johannesburg’s water network. Johannesburg Water plans to completely overhaul its bulk infrastructure at the HurstHill, Brixton and Crosby reservoirs over the next four years. MMC Moerane added that plans are in place to install a new connection from Rand Water to supplement the water supply to the Crosby Reservoir. There will also be a new booster pump station and associated pipework in Hurst Hill as well as the construction of a new reservoir and water tower in Brixton. According to the City, Joburg Water has been allocated a R3.3-billion multi-year capital budget for water and sewer pipe replacements, upgrades to the water storage infrastructure and the wastewater treatment works programme. Of that money, over R330-million will be invested in Joburg Water’s short and long-term plans to build more resilient water infrastructure for Brixton, Hurst Hill and Crosby reservoirs to ensure consistent supply to residents, businesses and hospitals in the area.
Gift of the Givers found 18 000 litres of water per hour at a depth of 83 metres at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital as part of their drilling efforts to find an alternative water supply. Photo: Gift of the Givers/Twitter
Water tanks are still being made available to areas that have a low water supply and information on them can be found on Johannesburg Water's social media pages. Photo: File
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