Joburg Water disruption hits Helen Joseph Hospital.

Staff Reporter.

Johannesburg’s unreliable water supply hit the Helen Joseph Hospital this week, which struggled without water for more than two days, causing great distress to staff and patients.

The cause of the problem was a disrupted supply of water from the Hursthill Reservoir, which affected a large part of north west Johannesburg.

Large parts of Johannesburg had experienced interrupted and unreliable water supply this week as Joburg Water was battling with problems at its Hursthill, Brixton and Crosby systems.

DA spokesperson on health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, described the situation at the hospital as disgusting, adding that water cuts forced doctors to cancel life saving operations.

Bloom said: “It has really been extremely disruptive, toilets were smelling, operations were cancelled. They gave patients bathroom water, and this is a hospital; you need hygiene. It is disgusting.”

The patient said: “Gauteng and the management of Helen Joseph provincial hospital don’t care. The patients and the staff cannot go to toilet, it is disgusting.There is Covid-19 and one has to wash hands, but no one can do that. There is a little water coming out of the taps, but not enough pressure to flush the toilet.”

According to Bloom, the water was restored on Saturday afternoon, but he feared that it could be cut off again.

“It could go off again tomorrow. People have been enduring this unreliable service for days. All over Johannesburg, the northwest side [and the northeast] of Johannesburg have not got water for days. Joburg Water is providing a poor service,” warned Bloom.

In a statement, Joburg Water said the water cuts were caused by a below average inflow of water into the systems.

“Thus, the reservoirs and towers are currently sitting at very low levels. Rand Water, our bulk water supplier is currently investigating the matter. We are aware that areas supplied from these systems are without water.”

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