Rand Water’s extensive maintenance operation is set to continue, affecting water supply across multiple municipalities in Gauteng over the coming days. Residents in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, and surrounding areas have been warned to prepare for potential low water pressure or complete outages, though officials urge calm, assuring that disruptions will not be continuous.
Planned Maintenance Timeline
Makenosi Maroo, Rand Water spokesperson, clarified that the maintenance is not a consecutive 19-day shutdown but occurs in phases. The first phase was completed on June 29, with the second phase beginning on June 30 and running until July 2.
Affected Systems and Areas
Three key systems will be impacted:
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Palmiet System – Supplies parts of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. Water will still flow but at reduced pressure.
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Eikenhof and Zuikerbosch Pump Stations – Linked to the Vereeniging and Waterfall reservoirs, affecting Johannesburg, Mogale City, Rand West, Rustenburg, and mining operations.
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Zuikerbosch Station – Will shut down completely for 50 hours starting June 30, impacting Rustenburg, Merafong, and Royal Bafokeng areas.
Contingency Measures
Rand Water is coordinating with municipalities to deploy water tankers in areas where reservoirs run dry. Municipalities will communicate tanker locations to residents.
Reason for Maintenance
The project aims to improve infrastructure reliability, including pipeline upgrades and reservoir cleaning. Maroo emphasized that the work is necessary to ensure long-term water supply stability.
While Rand Water assures residents that disruptions are temporary, many remain concerned about the extent of the impact. Municipalities are expected to provide updates as the maintenance progresses.
Residents are advised to store water and monitor local announcements for further details.
