A crane could was being used to suspend beams that were being placed for construction of the new Rupar Road Reservoir early on Friday. The existing reservoir, which supplies water to Dunveria, Orient Heights, Raisethorpe, Allandale and surrounding areas, has been leaking for more than two decades. Residents have long contended with waterlogged yards, damp, cracked walls and structural movement caused by excessive groundwater.
Construction workers were seen working on the reservoir which will replace the old one. “The project is scheduled for completion in December 2026,” Msunduzi Municipality Spokesperson Ntobeko Mkhize said in July, adding that the old reservoir will be dismantled and stored elsewhere once the new one is operational, and will not function alongside the new structure. Mkhize said the new reservoir will be significantly larger, improving storage capacity to meet growing demand.
“The reservoir will also feature dual inlet pipelines to ensure a more reliable and consistent water supply. “The approved funding covers the construction of the reservoir as well as associated pipeline infrastructure, including the connection to the Copesville Reservoir.” Resident Nerisha Maharaj said the community is glad that the new reservoir is being built which will bring respite to the residents who have been troubled for years. “We are really happy and I feel great because it feels like I have been fighting this along with the residents for years.
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We are patiently waiting for the completion,” said Maharaj. This long-awaited replacement of the reservoir follows extensive coverage byThe Witnesssince 2023, documenting residents’ efforts to prevent their properties from flooding.
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