by l3rato | Mar 9, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
Over 15 000 reinstatements completed by Johannesburg Water
Johannesburg Water is steadily making inroads in the City’s reinstatements backlog, one brick at a time.
Since 1 July 2022 to date, the Entity’s in-house technical teams have completed 15 205 reinstatements, which include small-scale restoration work on tarmac, paved, and concrete surfaces, backfilling, as well as the building of small valve boxes and chambers. A further 200 reinstatement jobs were done by contractors.
Considering the number of sites that needed to be restored when the Johannesburg Water took responsibility for reinstatements last year, the Entity has made some noteworthy progress.
This was revealed at the Reinstatements Media Session hosted by Johannesburg Water on Wednesday, 8 March 2023.
“The purpose of the media session was to give perspective to what the Entity is doing about the backlog of reinstatements around the City. We know that there are complaints from various regions about this issue and therefore we invited the media to show communities that we are actively addressing the matter,” said Johannesburg Water Spokesperson Puleng Mopeli.
Put simply, reinstatement is the process of closing a site – beneath a pavement or road – after it has been excavated to do water pipe replacements or repairs.
Prior to mid last year, the Johannesburg Roads Agency was responsible for the reinstatement jobs. “However, a decision was taken that Johannesburg Water would take over the responsibility of performing reinstatements on tarmac, paved, concrete, and stone surfaces. There are also grass surfaces that require minor reinstatement work that involves backfilling and compacting to normal ground level,” explained Johannesburg Water Senior Operations Manager Logan Munsamy.
Johannesburg Water uses both contractors and in-house teams to complete the work.
“The medium to large-scale work that includes paving, backfilling, concreting of surfaces, tarmac surfaces, and the building of valve boxes and chambers is outsourced to three service providers who share the workload among the regions. These service providers are appointed on a framework contract and have the necessary skills, equipment, and experience to undertake the magnitude of this work.”
Because of the enormity of the work, Johannesburg Water supplements capacity using in-house operator reinstatement teams.
“We have 10 depots in seven regions in the City of Johannesburg, which are strategically situated across the City to undertake service delivery issues. Each depot has an average of about four reinstatement teams. Some areas, like Soweto which is a larger region, have more.” The teams perform minor reinstatement works such as small-scale paving, concreting of surfaces, backfilling, and compaction. They are also geared up with the necessary skills and equipment to undertake small-scale reinstatement works.
“We have received some complaints about substandard workmanship or the slow pace at which some of the work is carried out. When we do become aware of such situations, we manage it according to our contract management process,” Munsamy reassured.
“This is indeed a mammoth task, but we are making progress slowly but surely. We do have our challenges; however, we intend to build more capacity as we go along. We have to be realistic about the backlog thus far, which cannot be eradicated overnight, either, but is being prioritised as it affects the safety of pedestrians and vehicle owners, as well as traffic flow management. Johannesburg Water is dedicated to providing optimal services. However, infrastructure in most suburbs is old, hence the frequency of repairs occurring more often than before. We do have capital upgrades every financial year, which we use to prioritise the most urgent jobs.”
Issued by: Puleng Mopeli
Logan Munsamy (centre) addressing the media on Wednesday, 8 March 2023.
A Johannesburg Water reinstatements team doing work at a site in Mulbarton on Wednesday, 8 March 2023.
by l3rato | Mar 7, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
Media Statement
07 March 2023
Johannesburg Water strengthens relations with stakeholders
In an effort to fortify the existing working relationship between Johannesburg Water and its stakeholders, the Entity hosted an engagement session with gated communities and sectional title holders.
The forum was held on Monday, 6 March 2023 at the Entity’s Cydna Laboratory in Houghton. This is part of Johannesburg Water’s commitment to improve customer and stakeholder satisfaction by enhancing stakeholder engagement programmes.
These stakeholder engagement sessions also serve as a platform for stakeholders to voice their concerns on any service delivery issues they may have.
Johannesburg Water gave an overview of the Company, performance highlights and the challenges experienced during the 2021/22 Financial Year, the hurdles projected going into the new financial year, as well as the interventions in place to mitigate those hurdles. Operations, Meter Reading, and Credit Control departments gave the audience insight on their processes and procedures.
Service delivery concerns raised by stakeholders included credit control and billing issues, as well as the turnaround time for reinstatements.
Furthermore, one of the major topics that were raised was the ongoing issue of water and sewer infrastructure renewals backlog. The replacement value of water and sewer infrastructure renewal backlog is currently sitting at R103 billion due to underfunding.
“We require R2 billion a year to invest in our infrastructure; however, the actual investment rate annually is restricted to R1 billion a year. So, that year-on-year deficiency accumulates over time, however the Entity is sourcing alternative funding.” explained Johannesburg Water’s General Manager: Strategy, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jones Mnisi.
“The funding model we have started implementing is to approach external private businesses and state-owned entities.”
A follow-up feedback session will be held in the next financial year.
by l3rato | Feb 23, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
23 February 2023
Johannesburg Water systems affected by major burst at Palmiet pump station.
Several Johannesburg suburbs that are serviced by the Palmiet pump station might experience low water pressure from this afternoon.
This comes after Rand Water experienced a major burst on its bulk infrastructure, which impacted the Palmiet pump station system that is currently pumping at only 48%.
As a result, water supply to various Johannesburg Water reservoirs, towers, and direct feeds might be affected, leaving various suburbs with reduced supply.
The affected systems include the South Hills tower, Alexander Park reservoir, Linksfield reservoir, Randjieslaagte reservoir, Diepsloot reservoir, Erand reservoir and tower, Grand Central reservoir and tower, President Park reservoir and tower, Rabie Ridge reservoir and tower, Corporate Park reservoir and tower, Randjesfontein reservoir and tower, Steyn City reservoir, Modder Hill reservoir, Linbro Park reservoir, Marlboro reservoir, Illovo reservoir and tower, Morningside reservoir, Bryanston reservoirs and tower, as well as the Dunkeld reservoir.
Rand Water technical teams are on site working to repair the valves.
Johannesburg Water requests customers to reduce consumption to enable a steady water supply during this period.
Issued by: Puleng Mopeli
by l3rato | Feb 1, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
1 February 2023
Johannesburg Water making headway (morning update)
Johannesburg Water infrastructure is making substantial headway towards restoring water supply in areas affected by the power failure on Sunday.
By Wednesday morning, 1 February 2023, the water level of the Rand Water system was at 39%, which is 8% higher than Tuesday.
Johannesburg South continues to be stable and technical teams are monitoring the system to ensure this can be sustained.
By early Wednesday morning, the Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospitals had 50% and 65% water levels respectively. Water flow into the hospitals is constantly being supplemented by regular pumping through water tankers.
The Linden 1 reservoir has seen some improvements; however, the supply pressure is still minimal. In Roodepoort, the Helderkruin zone is also showing progress, but is affected by the ongoing power outages. Nonetheless, the reservoir is out of critically low levels.
The Crosby zone has a healthy flow going into the system, while the Brixton reservoir has been opened to 100%. Both systems are being closely monitored. The Hursthill 1 zone inflow is still at critically low levels, while the Hursthill 2 zone is performing better than on Tuesday afternoon. As a result, these areas have little or intermittent water supply.
Provision has been made for alternative water supply, with 25 roaming tankers supplying affected areas. Arrangements will be made to move water tankers from areas with a steady water supply, to those that are still struggling.
The Kilpfontein View area still has four water tankers supplying it.
Issued by: Puleng Mopeli
by l3rato | Jan 31, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
31 January 2023
Johannesburg Water notes improvement on Eikenhof system
With a little over 24 hours since power was restored at the Eikenhof pump station, Johannesburg Water has seen an improvement in the functioning of the system. However, the Entity notes that it will take over 72 hours for the systems to normalise.
The Eagle’s Nest and Aeroton systems in the south of Johannesburg have been stabilised. However, Crown Gardens is recovering at a slower rate but performing better than Monday.
Pumping has started in the Roodepoort areas and technicians are working towards stabilising the system, which will be monitored throughout the day. The Commando, Forest Hill and Parktown 2 systems are recovering at a slow pace but surely improving.
Johannesburg Water continues to provide alternative water supply throughout the City, with an additional four mobile tankers stationed across the City, bringing the total to 27. Alternative water supply has been rolled out in the Linden and Blairgowrie supply zones, while the Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospitals have adequate supply with 24/7 monitoring of their systems.
Johannesburg Water again urges customers to be patient as the Entity works tirelessly to restore a steady supply of water in the City. We urge residents to report any form of vandalism and theft of water infrastructure to 0800 00 25 87.
Water tanker sites – Eikenhof system–>>>Click to View
by l3rato | Jan 30, 2023 | 2023, Media Statement
The Eikenhof system is in recovery after the power failure that took place on Sunday, 29 January 2023 at 04:30. This comes after City Power completed repairs at Eikenhof pump station, and pumping has resumed at full capacity. The Rand Water reservoirs will need to recover before a positive effect can be seen through improved levels at Johannesburg Water’s systems.
Johannesburg Water is monitoring supply to the following affected infrastructure:
1. Commando system (Crosby, Brixton and Hursthill)
2. Randwater direct feeds:
• Cornelius Street
• Weltevreden High pressure
• Weltevreden High pressure bypass
3. Honeydew tower
4. Linden tower
5. Riverlea Ext 2
6. Florida tower
7. Constantia tower
8. Helderkruin reservoir and tower
9. Witpoortjie reservoir and tower
10. Crown Gardens reservoir and tower
11. Eagle Nest reservoirir
Johannesburg Water continues to adequately provide alternative water supply in the interim to assist sensitive customers such as the Helen Joseph and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child hospitals through special pumping tankers which have a higher water capacity. Other sensitive customers such as schools, old-age homes and higher lying areas are being provided water through stationary water tanks and mobile tankers. A list of mobile water tanker sites will be provided to customers, these include Montclare, Coronationville, Mayfair, Parktown, Westbury, Vrededorp, Jan Hofmeyer, Winchester Hills, and Mondeor. Stationary tankers will also be made available at the Commando and Helderkruin system zones.
Johannesburg Water pleads with customers to be patient as the Entity works around the clock to bring systems to normality. We urge residents to report any form of vandalism and theft of water infrastructure to 0800 00 25 87.
Update on water tanker sites of areas affected—>>> Click to view
Issued by: Puleng Mopeli
