SEVERAL parts of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni are set to be without water for several days up to an undetermined period due to planned and unplanned maintenance and emergency repairs by Rand Water.

Johannesburg Water announced that one of Rand Water’s bulk pipelines was undergoing emergency repairs affecting Soweto, Randburg, Roodepoort, Deep South (Orange Farm, Eldorado Park, Ennerdale, Lenasia and Zakariyya Park, among others) as well as the Commando System, which supplies reservoirs such as Brixton, Crosby, Hursthill No. 1, and Hursthill No. 2.

“Due to the complexity of this system, additional isolation is required to facilitate the repair work. Therefore, pumping from Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station will be stopped to achieve the necessary isolation,” the City of Joburg’s water utility stated.

There is no estimated time for the restoration of the water supply, according to Johannesburg Water.

Residents in the affected areas have been warned they will experience poor water pressure to no supply at all, and Johannesburg Water has promised alternative supply arrangements.

Johannesburg Water said it is engaging ward councillors to identify water delivery points and tanks to support residents efficiently.

Rand Water chief executive Sipho Mosai said a burst of a big, high-pressure pipe at CMR Mine in Soweto has affected several areas on Gauteng’s West Rand.

According to Mosai, Rand Water has closed valves feeding the high-pressure pipe since Sunday, but the entity had not been successful by yesterday (Monday).

“We are trying to reduce pressure from our Eikenhof pump station so that it drops the pressure on this line. We can’t fix it as it is now because it is highly pressurised.

“As soon as the pumping reduces, which unfortunately may affect other areas, we will be able to attend to it,” he explained.

Mosai assured residents that Rand Water’s team and contractors were on site working long and hard to fix the burst pipe.

“Please bear with us, we will be able to attend to it in the shortest possible time, and you will be able to get your water shortly,” he promised.

In the Ekurhuleni Metro, residents have been notified that planned maintenance by Rand Water at their various water supply facilities will affect several areas from next Thursday, May 29, until June 3.

The Mapleton System, which supplies areas such as Benoni, Vosloorus, Katlehong, Daveyton, Springs, Brakpan, KwaThema, Tsakani, Duduza, Nigel, and Dunnottar, will experience water shortages for up to 107 hours until June 2.

Rand Water has indicated that with the unplanned maintenance, it hopes to achieve improved plant availability, reliability, and efficiencies.

The municipality has also undertaken to provide water tankers in areas experiencing no water supply, but urged residents to store water for domestic use and to use it sparingly.

In addition, businesses and institutions were advised to maintain on-site storage equivalent to their daily demand or at least up to 36 hours.

Since November last year, several areas supplied by Joburg Water have been under water throttling, which sees frequent daily or night-time interruptions after level one restrictions were introduced in September.

The restrictions prohibit the use of hosepipes to water gardens, wash cars, driveways, and fill up swimming pools.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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