Johannesburg Water embarks on urgent intervention to link Hurstill and Northcliff reservoirs to boost water supply

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Media statement

29 March 2023

Johannesburg Water embarks on urgent intervention to link Hurstill and Northcliff reservoirs to boost water supply

In efforts to resolve the poor water supply affecting the Hurstill 1 reservoir, Johannesburg Water’s (JW) Langlaate Depot has embarked on an urgent intervention to resolve the poor water supply. The project is expected to start on Saturday, 1 April.

After conducting the necessary modelling, it was determined that it is possible to link the two systems so that the Northcliff reservoir – which is stable and has enough bulk supply – can boost the struggling Hurstill 1 reservoir.

“We have put out an urgent Request For Quotation to address the Hurstill No.1 reservoir distribution network. The situation of water supply has deteriorated to a level where the reservoir runs empty regularly due to Rand Water supply challenges. A site briefing for service providers took place on Wednesday, 22 March,” said William Chitsa, Johannesburg Water’s General Manager for Capex.

The service provider is mainly to support the internal JW team in undertaking “under-pressure” drilling on both ends and comply with the associated environmental, health and safety measures to ensure works are done in a safe manner.

“In order to improve water supply, a 315mm diameter water pipe link has to be installed between the existing 600mm diameter and 450mm diameter distribution steel pipes. The link will be installed at the intersection of Long Road and Eighth Street in Newlands,” added Chitsa.

The scope required is that of ‘under-pressure” drilling (which means doing tie-ins without closing the water supply) on both the existing 600mm diameter steel pipe on one side of the link pipe (along Long Road) and also on the existing 450mm diameter steel pipe on the other end of the link.

It must be noted that JW’s operations team will install the link, which is approximately 20m 315 mm diameter uPVC pipe and provide the 315mm diameter and 250mm diameter gate valves that will be required on both sides of the link.

This intervention is an interim measure from JW’s infrastructure perspective, so that there will be stable and convenient water supply in the Commando System (comprising Brixton, Crosby and Hurstill).

Ends