A look at the new ‘mega-reservoir’ for Gauteng – one of the biggest in the world

WATER utility Rand Water has announced the launch of a new ‘mega reservoir’ in the City of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

According to the utility, the newly-built 210 megalitre Vlakfontein Reservoir is the largest cylindrical and circular reservoir in South Africa, and one of the biggest in the world.

At 210 megalitres, the reservoir can hold enough water to fill 84 Olympic-size swimming pools, which average around 2.5 megalitres.

Speaking with SAfm, Sipho Mosai, the chief executive of Rand Water, said that the new development is an engineering marvel that will assist with providing water to areas affected by shortages.

The executive said that the water supply in Gauteng has been facing constant challenges in light of continual rolling blackouts.

Mosai said that the new reservoir will now give an additional 24-hour water buffer for areas that are affected by water outages when pumps in the Tshwane or Pretoria area lack