Municipal utility Johannesburg Water said on Tuesday it was implementing infrastructure programmes in the township of Lenasia to ensure sustainable and quality services to all residents.
In a statement the utility, which is solely owned by the city of Johannesburg and serves an estimated consumer base of 5.1-million people, said Lenasia and surrounding areas would soon benefit from a pipe replacement programme, the upgrade of a pump station, a new reservoir to be built and a new balancing tank at a wastewater treatment plant in Bushkoppies.
It said the rolling out of the 15 kilometre pipe replacement programme would reduce the number of bursts and blockages.
"Johannesburg Water has six projects underway in the area amounting to just over R45-million to replace water pipes that are aimed at reducing water interruptions in the area," it said.
The work, which started in February and has resulted in 84 local labourers being employed, is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Johannesburg Water said it was also upgrading the Lenasia pump station at a cost of R13-million with a new generator and completing a new balancing tank at the Bushkoppies wastewater treatment plant at cost of over R85-million which was due to be commissioned at the end of October.
“I am excited about the new developments in the Lenasia area which will immensely benefit the community in the long run," city of Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee for environment, infrastructure and service delivery Nico de Jager said.
"We urge all communities to be patient and we are working around the clock to ensure quality work is delivered."
Lenasia was rocked by often-violent protests earlier this month over shacks erected on illegally occupied land.