Municipal entity Johannesburg Water officially launched the new 26-million-litre Brixton Reservoir and Tower on April 29, in Gauteng, marking a major milestone in its efforts to strengthen water security, infrastructure resilience and service delivery in the city.

The project represents a fully integrated system designed to augment existing capacity, improve reliability and enhance operational flexibility.

In her keynote address Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina emphasised the project’s role in addressing long-standing supply constraints in the Brixton, Crosby, and Hursthill systems, noting that increased storage capacity and system improvements will enhance supply stability and resilience.

The project forms part of Johannesburg Water’s broader infrastructure investment programme to increase storage capacity, stabilise system pressure and meet growing demand.

It also enables improved maintenance without widespread supply disruptions, contributes to local economic development, supports 25 small, medium-sized and microenterprises and has created over 100 job opportunities.

Executive Mayor Dada Morero described the project as a critical step toward reliable and sustainable water services for residents and businesses, noting that, as the most populous city in the country, the municipality had several competing needs.

The municipality currently replaces about 17 km of its water pipes each year, which is far below the national requirement of 175 km.

The City of Johannesburg has an ambitious programme to raise about R13-billion with the intention to invest it in the pipe replacement programme, which will also include a sewer pipe replacement programme, Morero noted, adding, “we are working, of course, with different financial institutions, including financial investment giant Development Bank of Southern Africa”.

Morero said if the R13-billion is raised, the municipality will be able to replace about 2 000 km of its 12 000 km water pipe network.

The launch was attended by Morero, Majodina, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo, Deputy Mayor Loyiso Masuku; Speaker of Council Margaret Arnolds, city manager Dr Floyd Brink; Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Jack Sekwaila, as well as Johannesburg Water’s board and executive management.