Johannesburg's water infrastructure is outdated and in need of a R500-million replacement, Johannesburg Water said on Wednesday.

"We are trying to solve the problem by changing the pipes in all suburbs," the utility's capital investment manager Bharat Gulab told a media briefing.

"This will minimise the number of bursts and water losses in the future."

The replacement project began in August 2008 with 10 suburbs, mostly in the north of the city, due to be completed in September 2009.

Another 22 suburbs were due to have their water infrastructure replaced by July 2010.

The suburbs were selected because they had experienced a proportionally high number of pipe bursts.

"We're looking at the history, bursts and number of complaints for stoppages and leaks.

"The places we've identified are actually 'hot spots'," said Johannesburg Water managing director Gerald Dumas.

While the work should not interfere with the 2010 World Cup, it might disrupt traffic during June's Confederations Cup.

Gulab said many of the pipes were beneath roads which would need to be closed while work was done.

Asbestos pipes, which were in extensive use when the pipes were installed in the 1950s, had become difficult to maintain.

"Once a burst pipe happens, it becomes recurring. The initial bursting of a pipe causes damage and subsequent bursts [occur] on the same line."

The new pipes were made of highly durable plastic and last between 50 and 80 years.

Gulab said each suburb was being tendered and managed as a separate project, costing about R10-million each. This would ensure the project benefited more companies.

He added that the projects were intended to be labour-intensive and required about 100 to 120 workers each.

It was also announced at the media briefing that the initial phase of the upgrading of the Northern Waste Treatment Works would be completed by July 2009.

The plant currently treats 300 mega-litres a day of raw sewage which it then pumps back into the Jukskei River. The upgrade would add another 50 mega-litres to its capacity.

The next two phases ? in 2013 and 2025 ? would add an additional 50 mega-litres each.

The upgrade had been necessary because the plant was overwhelmed by increasing amounts of sewage combined with rain storms which had resulted in spillages.

Division manager Ntshavheni Mukwezho said the entire upgrade would cost R269-million.

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