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The Department of Water and Sanitation Minister, Mr Senzo Mchunu has officially launched the country’s largest 210 million litres reservoir in Benoni on Friday, 17 February 2023. The Vlakfontein Reservoir is set to provide additional water storage and supply in areas east of Tshwane and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

The construction of the reservoir is the brainchild of the Department’s Entity, Rand Water, as part of measures put into place by the utility’s strategies of refurbishing and augmenting water infrastructure. 

The 210 Mℓ reservoir is part of the Mapleton System which receives water from the Zuikerbosch purification and pumping station via two pipes, which are both 2,100mm in diameter and distributes the potable water to various municipalities through two outgoing pipelines which are also 2,100mm in diameter.

The Vlakfontein Reservoir is the largest post tensioned reservoir in the country, benchmarked against a reservoir in Saudi Arabia which is only 200Mℓ in capacity. It is also registered as a dam with high safety risks. Therefore, during its design, stringent safety regulations had to be adhered to.

Speaking during the launch, Minister Mchunu dispelled public notions that the water sector is headed towards a state of disaster and total collapse.

“I accept that the country is facing challenges of power supply and I do understand the impact of this on water supply. But I do think that it is misleading to say that the water sector is heading towards that direction and is in shambles. That is incorrect,” he said.

Minister Mchunu alluded to the extensive work which is being carried out by Rand Water in Gauteng and other parts of the country, which includes the implementation of the Infrastructure Development Planning which entails planning for the refurbishment and augmentation of infrastructure, and the implementation thereof. 

“The augmentation I am referring to includes expansion of potable production capacity 

at the river stations, as well as infrastructure that radiates away from river stations, that is pipework, pumps, reservoirs or associated automation and electrical infrastructure. When pipelines, pump stations and additional potable capacity at river stations are upgraded, outright additional capacity can be delivered to customers,” said Minister Mchunu. 

The Vlakfontein Reservoir was planned for and built by Rand Water as part of its augmentation strategy to maintain strategic storage capacity equivalent to 24 hrs water demand, especially amid the current power supply challenges as experienced across the country.  

The reservoir will accommodate water demands supply in areas situated in the east of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality up to year 2035 and this is based on compounded growth rate of 2% for the areas.  Construction of the reservoir began in May 2020 and is nearing completion with a set timeframe being April 2023. Approximately 220 job opportunities for locals in ward 24 and ward 110 in the Ekurhuleni Local Municipality were created.  

Minister Mchunu further called on members of the public to avoid vandalizing water infrastructure and report acts of vandalism to local authorities. 

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation