By: Natasha Archary
More than 48-hours since Rand Water completed extensive maintenance on a number of its systems, taps in some parts of Johannesburg are still running dry.
This is, according to Johannesburg Water (JHB Water) due to possible airlocks in the pipelines and a slow recovery of supply to reservoirs and water towers.
The water supplier said several reservoirs were still empty or at critical capacity over the weekend, leaving frustrated residents without water for almost a week.
In a statement issued on Sunday, 16 July, JHB Water noted an upward trajectory on its water systems which show slight improvement.
While residents in affected parts of the city are still relying on water tankers for daily water supply, much of Roodepoort, Randburg, Soweto, Lenasia, Crown Gardens, and Commando remain critically low.
Towers and reservoirs in Roodepoort and Randburg in particular are currently empty.
“Some of the reservoirs and towers are either being supplied using Rand Water’s hydraulic pressure or are receiving pumping from a reservoir.
Currently the system is not pressurized enough and some of the systems do not have adequate capacity for pumping.
Additional Johannesburg Water technical teams have been mobilised and are busy starting the pumps to supply the towers that are currently empty.”
Johannesburg Water said it could take up to 14-days for systems to fully recover.
#JoburgUpdates
— Johannesburg Water (@JHBWater) July 16, 2023
Media Statement
Johannesburg Water systems make significant progress ^P pic.twitter.com/au2cx37vnn
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