• Rand Water and Johannesburg Water have released a joint statement urging Gauteng residents to use water sparingly as neither organisation can keep up with increased demand.
• Reservoir levels reportedly remain at a low level as stations are running at their highest capacity.
• Citizens are now being burdened by the need to save water, and have been given a list of tips by the utilities.

At the weekend Gauteng residents in suburbs across the province experienced intermittent access to water, as both Rand Water and Johannesburg Water have been unable to keep up with increased demand.

The pair of utilities issued a joint media statement late on Sunday explaining the extent of the problem.

“Rand Water and Johannesburg Water are noticing increasing water consumption from customer meters that are in the System. This increase is putting a strain in the system and consumers and citizens can assist by reducing their water consumption,” the statement laid out.

“Rand Water’s primary and secondary stations are operating at their maximum capacity; however, the entity is unable to maintain its reservoirs at high water levels because of HIGH CONSUMPTION by consumers and citizens in the Metro and surrounding areas. As a result, reservoir levels remain at their lowest due to high consumption by consumers,” it continued.

As we have seen during the ongoing energy crisis, the burden has somehow fallen on citizens for the current state of affairs, with both utilities noting that if the demand remains at its current increased level, an entire system collapse is possible.

“Due to the system being integrated, even customers that are using water sparingly are being affected. High potable water consumption may result to the collapse of the system, which will result intermittent water supply,” the utilities warned.

While it is unclear when the current water situation will stabilise, much like Eskom, Rand Water and Johannesburg Water had the temerity to list a series of water saving tips that Gauteng residents should follow:

• “Avoid watering lawns and gardens with clean drinking water.
• Refrain from filling-up swimming pools until consumption has reduced.
• Do not clean paved areas and driveways with clean drinking water.
• Wash your cars only on weekends using buckets. 
• Take a two-minute shower instead of using bathtubs.
• Do not leave your tap running when brushing teeth.
• Fix all leaking plumbing features in your houses.
• Flush toilets only for the brown and not the yellow.
• Report leaking water pipes to the respective local municipalities within the City of Johannesburg.”

With the situation surrounding loadshedding easing ever so slightly this week after several days of Stage 6, it now looks like water is the next utility that South Africans will be in desperate search of.

[Image – Photo by Anandan Anandan on Unsplash]