2 August 2006 Johannesburg Water upgrading Northern Works Treatment Plant Johannesburg Water, the water and sanitation service provider for the City of Joburg is maintaining its mission of providing quality water and sanitation services to the residents of the City. A project to upgrade the Northern Works Treatment Plant has been embarked upon. This project is part of the Utility's overall investment programme aimed at improving service levels throughout the City. The Northern Works is being upgraded to cater for increased flows due to ongoing developments in its catchment area. With regards to the reported spillages into the Jukskei River during June, these were mainly due to a problem developed during some essential upgrading work being undertaken. The substandard effluent of some 80 litres per second of settled sewage was substantially diluted and neutralized by the treated effluent of approximately 3000/litres per second with a quality well within the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry license requirements. The analysis of samples taken from the Jukskei River upstream and downstream of the Works verified satisfactory dilution and subsequent samples taken in July confirm the e-coli levels to be well within the permit allowances. An additional capacity of 50 mega-litre per day will be commissioned within the next weeks which will timeously provide the required capacity and help to decrease the likelihood of spillages. In addition to the above, Johannesburg Water is currently in the design stage of a new unit which will ultimately add another 150 mega-litre capacity to the Northern Works at an estimated cost of approximately R450 million. Johannesburg Water remains committed to its objective of providing and improving efficient uninterrupted service delivery to residents and to make Johannesburg Africa's World Class City. Residents should report sewer and water related problems to JW's 24-hour call centre 688 1500 Issued on behalf of Gerald Dumas: Managing Director Johannesburg Water Issued by Baldwin Matsimela, Acting Senior Manager Marketing and Communications, 082 859 0459