Stormwater drainage repairs to minimise flash flooding in Joburg

AS PART of the City of Joburg’s ongoing efforts to address infrastructure backlogs – in this case through the repair and rehabilitation of the stormwater drainage system – Robinson canal, one of the city’s oldest canals, has undergone an R8 million upgrade.

This repair will minimise the incidence of flooding in the city. Due to climate change, the city has seen an increase in flash flooding following sporadic torrential downpours since 2009. This has resulted in increased water volumes which have negatively impacted on the ageing stormwater infrastructure.

The Robinson canal project has been divided into three phases. Phase 1, now 65% complete, is expected to be completed by the end of the month, said Nonhlanhla Makhubu, of the mayoral committee for transport.

Phase 1 focuses on repairs and rehabilitation of an open channel which services the inner-city from Main Street passing through Selby and Ophirton and ends on Lake Street. Repairs have been undertaken on the canal linings and sinkholes

Phase 2, scheduled for the 2017/18 financial year with a budget of about R5m, will focus on a six-month repair of the underground channel, which requires increased safety precautions because of the trapped gases from the waste water in the lower-lying structure.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is in the process of appointing contractors for this phase.

As part of the city’s quest to stimulate economic growth and decrease levels of unemployment, 40 local people were employed for the project. Four emerging local sub-contractors are being used, with the main contractor femaleowned.

As we celebrate Environment Month, it is important to understand the impact of wastewater and greenhouse gases on the environment. The importance of systemic adaptation to climate change must be emphasised in ensuring the preparedness of the city’s infrastructure towards safe, resilient and sustainable human settlements, she said.

The City of Joburg’s five pillars underpinning this administration’s strategic vision align to the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals.

“As a city, we are implementing mitigation measures in our infrastructure projects to combat climate change and its impacts. The structural rehabilitation of Robinson canal ensures sustainable management of stormwater with risk mitigation measures in place to reduce impact and harm to biodiversity and the surrounding community.

“I would therefore like to thank the residents of Joburg for their patience while we address the current problems of stormwater drains resulting to flooding. We are committed on building and preserving our stormwater infrastructure and ensuring sustainable industrialisation.

“Furthermore, we encourage our residents to continue to report any road, traffic light, or infrastructure faults on the JRA’s Find & Fix app.”

R8m upgrade for one of the city’s oldest canals