Final testing underway for Brixton reservoir and tower

Johannesburg Water has announced that the Brixton reservoir and tower have entered the final phase of becoming operational, with testing and verification processes now nearing completion.

The water utility states that the commissioning of this infrastructure will significantly strengthen water security across Johannesburg.

This development follows recent protests by residents in areas such as Melville and Coronationville who have expressed deep frustration over persistent supply issues.

The Brixton facility forms a critical part of the Commando system, which has been under immense pressure due to construction delays and years of inadequate maintenance across the broader network.

Joburg Water maintains that the completion of the work at Brixton represents a major step toward improving the water supply in these heavily affected areas.

The project previously faced significant setbacks after the entity was unable to pay the contractor, resulting in missed deadlines.

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Earlier this year, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero promised frustrated residents that the Brixton facility would be operational by the end of February.

Joburg Water has now assured residents that this development will provide much-needed storage capacity for the Commando system, which has been among the hardest hit by supply interruptions. Some of the specific areas affected by these ongoing issues include Coronationville, Westbury, Parktown, and parts of Soweto.

In a bid to prevent a total collapse of the system, the provincial government announced last month that it was diverting water to reservoirs that were running dangerously low.

The finalisation of the Brixton reservoir is expected to alleviate the need for such emergency measures and provide a more stable flow to the city's residents.