Annual cleaning and maintenance at Newlands Reservoir

The City carried out its annual cleaning and maintenance operation at the Newlands Reservoir to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of this water infrastructure. 

Work started on Monday May 5 and was completed on Friday May 16. To prepare for the cleaning, the reservoir was gradually emptied. Once drained, teams manually scour the floor using hard-bristle brooms and squeegees.

This was followed by maintenance on the reservoir valves and detailed structural inspections to ensure the reservoir remained in good condition.

Mayoral committee member for water and sanitation, Zahid Badroodien said the routine work was essential to prevent sediment build-up on the reservoir floor.

He said this type of cleaning was generally scheduled for the winter months, when lower water demand allows the reservoir to be temporarily taken offline without affecting supply.

“This year, the City invested just over R640 000 in the maintenance of Newlands Reservoir. This cost is significantly less than in previous years, thanks to the use of in-house equipment, including City-owned pumps, bobcats, and cranes. A team of 60 to 70 staff members from various bulk water facilities are also collaborating on this project,” he said.

“A sincere thank you to all the dedicated staff who made this year’s operation a success and who continue to work year-round to maintain our infrastructure,” he said.

Newlands Reservoir supplies water to Wynberg Reservoir, Bishopscourt and all the way to Hout Bay and Llandudno, as well as Newlands, Claremont, Kenilworth, Groote Schuur, UCT, Rondebosch, Molteno Reservoir, Ottery, Strandfontein, Pelican Park, Lansdowne, Wetton, Lotus River, Retreat, Steenberg, Muizenberg and Grassy Park.