Rand Water says cost of 5-week maintenance project can only be quantified at a later stage
The first phase, which focused on the Mogale City Local Municipality has already been completed, nine hours ahead of schedule.
A Rand Water maintenance team on site at the Bergbron water utility site in Johannesburg on 25 June 2024 where they are conducting planned maintenance. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The cost of the extensive infrastructure maintenance project Rand Water is working on currently remains to be seen.
The project kicked off at the weekend and is expected to stretch over five weeks.
The first phase, which focused on the Mogale City Local Municipality, has already been completed nine hours ahead of schedule.
The second phase, which involves the Eiekenhof, Zwartkopies and Mapleton systems was underway on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Rand Water hosted members of the media at its Waterval depot, where work was under way to interconnect the Waterval 1 and 2 reservoirs, which form part of the Eikenhof system.
The site was a hive of activity, with deep excavation and welding works taking place.
And with this being just one of a number of sites around the city that they’ll be working on during this time, the total cost of the project is expected to be significant.
But Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said they would only be able to quantify it closer to completion.
"We have a budget for five years so for now, I'm not able to give you a figure because remember it’s a moving target as we fix whatever challenges we are experiencing. Towards the end of the project, we’ll be able to give an indication."
Work at the Waterval depot is scheduled to be completed later this week, while the broader project is expected to be concluded by 29 July. In the interim, Joburg residents have been warned that they can expect low pressure to no supply.
Meanwhile, water tankers are being deployed to mitigate against the impact on affected residents.