Almost a year after the 30 June 2022 ‘grand’ opening of the newly built Lenasia 15ML high level reservoir meant to supplement the existing 6ML and increase storage capacity to 21ML, residents in Lenasia South, Vlakfontein, Hospital Hills 525 and surroundings continue to face water cut-offs attributed to increasing demand which exceeds current supply.
By Ottis Manyoba
Johannesburg Water’s Spokesperson, Nolwazi Dhlamini told GLOBE POST: “Growth in water demand in the greater Lenasia area has resulted in the existing bulk pipeline not being able to deliver the required volumes of water. Therefore, a project was initiated to design and construct parallel to Lenasia bulk supply line and Cosmos Pump station. The project scope involves the construction of approximately 10 km of 1300/ 1000/ 800 mm diameter pipe to Cosmos and Hospital Hill reservoirs and upgrading the Cosmos pump station.”
The project, initiated on 13 June 2022, is still in the preliminary design stage and is expected to be completed in the next five years with 22 May 2028 set as the completion date.
Until then, residents can expect intermittent supply as the current pipeline cannot meet usage volumes.
“A contractor is yet to be appointed and the tender has not been advertised as Johannesburg Water is still busy with the designs,” added Dhlamini.
Speaking on the sidelines of a community meeting held at the Lenasia South Civic Centre on 7 March 2023, Ward 120’s Cllr Puseletso Nzimande said: “ I called this meeting so that residents can come and hear from Joburg Water what is going on. When all the reservoirs were built, they only catered for the small capacity at that time, and now, the number of people in the ward has exponentially increased that’s why we’re experiencing challenges with water supply.”
Hospital Hills Community Forum’s Tendani Muofhe said they don’t expect to see any changes in the next decade or so even after completion of the big water project which residents don’t see its purpose.
He said: “The newly built 15ML reservoir was built for nothing considering that its water pipe infrastructure is inadequate to properly cater for all residents.”
