Johannesburg Water faces supply challenges amid infrastructure upgrades
Johannesburg Water has admitted the city is experiencing supply challenges that it is addressing.
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Johannesburg Water reported constrained systems on Tuesday, resulting in low pressure or no supply in some parts of the city.
In areas with no water, the entity promised to supply water through coordination with ward councillors.
The Johannesburg Water central system was constrained but supplying fairly to critically low, with some areas receiving poor pressure to no water.
Over the weekend, Rand Water's Vereeniging raw water treatment plant experienced power supply challenges, and this resulted in reduced capacity at the Eikenhof pump station.
This affected the Commando system, which includes Crosby, Brixton and Hursthill, Waterval tower, Quellerina tower, Crown Gardens, Eagles Nest, and Naturena reservoir.
DA councillor and shadow Environment and Infrastructure Services MMC Tyrell Meyers said Rand Water assured residents that the system is stabilising at Vereeniging.
He said there was a challenge at the Zuikerbos purification plant in Vereeniging and that Rand Water continues to monitor the situation.
"We maintain that investing in infrastructure is critical," Meyers said.
He added that Rand Water called Johannesburg Water to an emergency meeting on Sunday.
According to Meyers, Joburg Water summoned councillors to a virtual meeting to provide an update.
Residents have been urged to use water sparingly to reduce demand.
Johannesburg Water has stated that the demand for potable water has increased hence its appeal to residents to reduce consumption.
Its managing director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, admitted that the Commando system is struggling with supply issues.
"The Commando system is our most sensitive system due to a lack of sufficient bulk infrastructure. It is precisely for that reason that the City of Johannesburg is investing over R600 million into upgrading this system, to improve the infrastructure and ensure a reliable water supply," he said.
Johannesburg Water is also constructing a new Brixton reservoir and tower, which is expected to be completed next month.
In addition, upgrades to the Commando system will include the existing Crosby pump station and a new rising main to the inlet of the Hursthill reservoir to augment and boost supply, as well as the supply line from Commando to Hursthill and Crosby reservoirs.
The upgrades will be completed by December next year.