Johannesburg's water crisis has intensified, with supply systems constrained due to high demand and excessive draw-off. This has resulted in low water pressure, intermittent supply, and prolonged outages across several parts of the city. The crisis has prompted Johannesburg Water to warn residents to reduce their water usage by 15%. The entity's spokesperson, Nombuso Shabalala, stated that technical teams are working to reconfigure the network and implement targeted throttling to balance available supply and stabilise distribution.
The affected systems include Commando, Central, Sandton, and parts of Midrand, Randburg-Roodepoort, Soweto, and the Deep South. Higher-lying areas are expected to be hardest hit when reservoir and tower levels drop. Shabalala mentioned that the strain on the system is causing significant disruptions to residents. To mitigate this, Johannesburg Water has proposed more stringent level 1 water use restrictions. These measures aim to reduce current demand by approximately 15%.
The proposed measures include restrictions on irrigation between 6am and 6pm, compulsory spray nozzles on hosepipes, and no hosing down of hard surfaces. Additionally, the city plans to stop irrigation at its parks and public spaces. Contractors would be required to use treated effluent instead of potable water for road construction and jetting activities. These steps are intended to strengthen existing demand management measures and alleviate pressure on the water supply system.
However, the crisis has become increasingly politicised. DA Ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau attributed the restrictions to government failure rather than a collaborative agreement between parties. He argued that Johannesburg's water allocation from Rand Water should have been increased long ago. Bittkau also claimed that Johannesburg Water was losing 49.8% of its water through illegal connections, bypassed meters, and technical losses.
Bittkau expressed disappointment that the losses had not improved significantly from the previous year's 42.5%. He stated that the international accepted maximum of losses is 19%. The councillor's comments suggest that the water crisis may be exacerbated by internal inefficiencies within Johannesburg Water. The entity's management of water losses will be crucial in addressing the current crisis.
The ANC Greater Joburg region has questioned Rand Water's decision to restrict bulk supply to Johannesburg. ANC regional secretary Sasabona Manganye stated that water is essential to human dignity, public health, and the functioning of schools, clinics, and businesses. He called on Rand Water to account publicly for its decision-making process and work with the city to protect vulnerable communities.
Manganye raised concerns about the timing of Rand Water's decision, which coincides with the final stretch towards the local government elections. He suggested that the intervention's planning, urgency, and broader implications require transparent communication and effective co-ordination. The ANC Greater Joburg region's comments highlight the need for a collaborative approach to addressing the water crisis.
Key points
- Johannesburg Water warns residents to reduce water usage by 15% due to constrained supply systems and high demand.
- The proposed water use restrictions include limitations on irrigation and compulsory spray nozzles on hosepipes.
- The water crisis has become increasingly politicised, with the ANC and DA attributing the crisis to different factors.
