‘We can’t reduce water consumption if we have none’

On Tuesday, Rand Water said the bulk water supply system was under severe pressure and pumping at maximum capacity. Continued high demand increased the risk of supply disruptions, it said, warning that Johannesburg needed to immediately reduce consumption by 15%.

We are raising serious concerns about extremely high water consumption by several municipalities, including Johannesburg, which is placing increasing pressure on the bulk water supply system. We have also warned them that their non-revenue water losses need to be addressed.

But for some Johannesburg residents, there has been no water for a week, and in at least three suburbs. By Friday only the Bez Valley alert was still in place, with water in Malvern and Parkhurst cleared for consumption.

Johannesburg Water is an entity under siege, largely due to severe underfunding, ageing infrastructure which loses almost half the water it buys from Rand Water, and a lack of financial resources and skilled human resources.

On Wednesday, Johannesburg Water issued a statement asking residents to lower their water consumption, saying it was experiencing “significant strain on its systems” due to high consumption.

Residents and businesses are urgently requested to reduce consumption, avoid using drinking water for nonessential activities and comply with the level 1 restrictions now in effect.

The level 1 water restrictions are no watering of gardens or filling pools between 6am and 6pm and no washing of cars, paved areas or driveways using hosepipes.