- Water reservoirs and towers across Johannesburg are experiencing supply problems after the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant experienced a power interruption.
- Some systems are empty, and most are critically low with only a handful pumping normally.
- Johannesburg Water says it has secured alternative water supply for “affected areas” but level 1 water restrictions are still in place.
Residents of Johannesburg better gird their loins as yet another water supply disruption this year could be imminent. The latest from Johannesburg Water, the city’s water supply and infrastructure utility, explains that “most” of the city’s systems “have lost storage capacity and are currently critically low to empty.”
This apparently follows a power failure at the utility’s Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant. Johannesburg Water says it is closely monitoring the situation. The utility adds that alternative water supply has been arranged for affected customers and will be placed in “strategic locations.”
Residents of the city are warned to adhere to Level 1 water restrictions, which have now been implemented from 1st September 2023 to 31st March 2024. “These restrictions prohibit the use of hosepipes to water gardens, wash cards, clean driveways, as well as fill up swimming pools and water features between 06:00 and 18:00.”
“This is to ensure that systems are kept stable throughout the coming months,” Johannesburg Water says via an X announcement.
The most affected areas include:
- South Hills tower – no water to poor water pressure to be experienced,
- Brixton Reservoir – levels remain low and pressure may be affected,
- Brixton tower – pumping normally,
- Hursthill 1 reservoir – critically low despite an attempt to augment supply. Expect little to no water pressure,
- Hursthill 2 reservoir – remains low. Low pressure could be experienced in high-lying areas,
- Crosby reservoir – critically low storage and poor water pressure experienced,
- Crown Gardens reservoir and towers – Levels remain stable and supply is normal, but towers may still provide poor water pressure,
- Eagles Nest reservoir – water level remains critically low, some may not receive water in supply area.
- Naturena reservoir – supplying normally,
- Alexander Park reservoir – supplying normally but levels still low,
- Berea Reservoir – critically low and on bypass mode. Low pressure to no water supply expected,
- Linden 1 reservoir and tower – supplying normally,
- Sandton reservoirs – critically low levels in Linbro Park, Marlboro, Morningside, Illovo, and Bryanston. Water pressure could be very low,
- Grand central reservoir – poor pressure expected in supply zone,
- Grand Central tower – empty,
- Errand reservoirs 1 and 2 – critically low. Poor to no water pressure in supply zone,
- Errand tower – empty,
- President Park reservoir and tower – critically low and on bypass mode. Low pressure to no water is expected in the supply zone.
Earlier this year, a citywide water shutdown was called by Rand Water in order to enact repairs across its pumping stations in the city. The shutdown was extended and lasted an entire week in July. Thousands were left without water in the taps.
We remind our readers if their water is lost, switch off your geyser to avoid burning out its components which will be both costly and annoying to repair.
[Image – Photo by Patrick Pahlke on Unsplash]
