After months of delays, financial setbacks, and unpredictable weather, the long-awaited Brixton reservoir tower project has finally entered its most crucial phase.
Engineers on site have confirmed that water would be pumped into the new tower as early as this week, marking a significant milestone in the effort to stabilise water supply for residents of Brixton and parts of Auckland Park.

Read more: Promises run dry as Hursthill 2 reservoir repairs are yet to begin

Ward 87 councillor Kyle Jacobs, who visited the site on October 29, said the installation of the pumps, responsible for transferring water from the reservoir up into the tower, has been completed. The system is currently powered by a generator, which, according to engineers, can operate continuously until City Power completes a permanent electricity connection.

“They don’t want to wait on City Power, so they’ll use the generator in the meantime and continue with work,” Jacobs explained.

Engineers expect to begin pumping water from the Brixton reservoir into the newly constructed tower between October 30 and 31, following a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. Once filled, the structure will undergo leak testing – a critical stage expected to last about 21 days. The water must remain inside the tower long enough to reveal any minor or hidden leaks before the system can be fully commissioned.

If all goes according to plan, both the reservoir and the tower are projected to go online by November 22, finally delivering a steady and reliable water supply to residents who have endured months of shortages, said Jacobs.

Jacobs acknowledged that the upgrade project had encountered numerous challenges along the way. Among them were payment delays from the city, which left the contractor struggling to maintain momentum. Despite the financial strain, Jacobs praised the contractor for continuing work whenever possible.

Brixton reservoir challenges

In addition to financial hurdles, severe weather, including heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds, hampered progress, particularly when crews were working at height on the tower. Despite these challenges, Jacobs confirmed that construction was now complete, with only minor finishing touches such as painting, cleaning, and pathway installation still underway.

Also read: Brixton reservoir tower testing begins

He added that the reservoir itself had already passed leak tests, following earlier repairs, and is considered structurally sound. The focus now shifts to testing the tower to ensure it is equally ready for service.

Update on Crosby pump station

Meanwhile, Jacobs provided updates on the Crosby pump station, which plays a vital role in supplying both the old and new Brixton systems. The new pump, recently tested in China, is set to arrive in South Africa by November 3 and will be installed on site by November 7. Testing of the pump is expected to take only a few days, after which it will deliver greater water volumes to the Brixton reservoir and tower, a major improvement over the previous system.

Jacobs said he intended to maintain close oversight of both projects in the coming weeks. “We’re literally at the last push,” he said. “We’re expecting both the new pump station and the new reservoir tower to go online and start supplying in a matter of weeks.”

While the Brixton reservoir tower will directly benefit Brixton and parts of Auckland Park, Jacobs noted that other areas within Ward 87 remained affected by water supply issues linked to the Hursthill 2 reservoir. Johannesburg Water (JW) has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed for Hursthill 2, with site establishment and rehabilitation work expected to begin in early November.

Jacobs said he planned to visit that site next month to verify progress. “Hursthill 2 is the next battle and fight that we’re taking on. But we’re happy with the progress right now. JW has assured us that areas supplied by the Brixton reservoir and tower will start seeing improved and more reliable supply once these projects are completed.”

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