By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Executive mayor Dada Morero has assured Johannesburg residents that the city has put interventions in place to prevent the ongoing water crisis.
Morero made these comments during the briefing in Brixton where the city and Joburg Water are currently building a reservoir to ease the water burden on residents.
“The city is facing a severe water crisis due to ongoing drought worsened by climate change, high levels of non-revenue water, illegal connections and infrastructure challenges,” said Morero. “The Integrated Vaal river System (IVRS) is the city’s primary water source. It is under severe strain, with reservoir levels dropping to critical thresholds.”
Morero said, the city has decided to implement various restrictions that will affect residents which could be escalated to emergency stages should the water situation not improve.
“Johannesburg Water must strike a difficult balancing act to handle water consumption that is outpacing supply because of the uncertainty surrounding future trends in population expansion, water demand, infrastructure investment needs and budget constraints. This trend places immense strain on our bulk water system and jeopardises the sustainability of our water supply,” he said.
“The entity is addressing more than just the issue of consumption. The unaccounted-for water lost through leaks is equally concerning. Better water demand management is required to address both excessive use and water losses. The water conservation and water demand management strategy is a five-year strategy that was revised and updated in October of the 2021/22 financial year.”
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has urged residents to use water sparingly, as shortages have worsened in several municipalities.
Giving a report on his government’s first 100 days in office on Wednesday morning, Lesufi encouraged residents to adhere to the water restrictions.
“We’ve held several meetings including a water summit, and we’ve requested the leadership of Rand Water to make a presentation on possible scenarios to avert potential loss of water during the December period.”
Lesufi also expressed his dismay over persistent crime, including building hijackings, saying that the situation “keeps me awake at night”.
He rated his cabinet’s crime-fighting efforts at two out of 10, adding that significant improvements were needed.
The premier said the province did not suffer from a shortage of water but rather from “systemic challenges”, particularly illegal connections and losses due to ageing infrastructure.
“We are forming a task team of law-enforcement officials dedicated to identifying and disconnecting illegal water connections across the province, “he said.
Meanwhile Johannesburg Water’s work to upgrade its water pipeline network in Carlswald, in Midrand, a prerequisite to a bigger plan to build the new Carlswald reservoir, is progressing well.
The Carlswald Water Pipeline project is at the environmental assessment stage, with a positive environmental authorisation granted in September 2024, as well as in the public participation process stage.
The proposed 5.1 km pipeline, which will start on Walton road and end just outside the Blue Hills Country Estate entrance, will service current and future developments in the area.
The pipeline is required to implement the new Carlswald reservoir supply zone project, to augment the Errand reservoir – which does not have sufficient capacity. This will in turn supplement and improve storage capacity at the Errand system,” Johannesburg Water said in a statement on Wednesday.