Substantial water outages will affect Joburg, Pretoria, and Ekurhuleni this week as Rand Water enters the final stages of a significant maintenance and upgrade program to the main water systems in Gauteng. Here are the details on the projects and the areas that will be impacted.
Final Week of Maintenance
Rand Water is concluding its extensive infrastructure maintenance program, which began on June 22. The program has been divided into multiple phases:
- Phase 1: June 22 – June 30
- Phase 2: July 1 – July 13
- Phase 3: July 15 – July 29
The final two projects are set to address the Mapleton and Palmiet systems.
Upcoming Projects
Mapleton System Maintenance
- Date: July 26 – July 29
- Duration: 77 hours
- Work: Augmentation and flexibility maintenance
Palmiet System Valve Replacement
- Date: July 29
- Duration: 40 hours
- Work: Replacement of defective valves
Areas Affected
| Region | Period | Suburbs Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Joburg | July 29 | Westfield, Westlake View (All ext.), Greenstone Park (All ext.), Greenstone Hill (All ext.), Longmeadow Business Estate (All ext.), Founders Hill, Modderfontein Ext. 2 |
| Ekurhuleni | July 26 – July 29 | Brakpan, Springs, Benoni, Daveyton, Etwatwa, Vosloorus, Nigel, Tsakani, Duduza |
| Ekurhuleni | July 29 – July 30 | Germiston, Boksburg, Alberton, Katlehong, Bedfordview, Edenvale, Thembisa, Kempton Park |
| Tshwane | July 26 – July 30 | Suburbs impacted by both Mapleton and Palmiet system maintenance (detailed list on city’s official channels) |
Impact and Recovery
Local water utilities have cautioned that even after maintenance completion, it might take additional time for water pressure to normalize. For example, Joburg Water has reported that some systems are still recovering from the second phase of the project.
Water Conservation Measures
Residents are urged to conserve water during this period to help mitigate the impact of the outages. Recommended measures include:
- Avoiding garden irrigation between 06:00 and 18:00.
- Not washing vehicles with hosepipes.
- Refraining from filling swimming pools.
- Installing low-flow shower heads and tap aerators.
- Using dual-flush toilet cisterns.
- Planting indigenous or drought-resistant plants.
- Using brooms instead of hosepipes for cleaning.
- Collecting rainwater for reuse.
- Covering swimming pools to reduce evaporation.
- Taking shorter showers.
- Turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.
- Regularly checking for leaks in toilets and taps.
Stay Informed
Residents should stay updated through their municipalities’ social media and news channels for the latest information on water outages and conservation measures.
