Staff Reporter.
Water utility Johannesburg Water has urged residents to use water sparingly as levels at some reservoirs are low due to a power failure at Rand Water’s Vereeniging purification works.
Spokesperson Puleng Mopeli says the power failure has led to a reduction in supply to the Eikenhof pump station.
“Various Johannesburg water systems remain at low to critically low as a result of water supply challenges from our bulk supplies. These include the Commando systems, Crown Gardens systems, South Hills tower, Alexandra Park, as well as Yeoville, Berea and two Parktown reservoirs.”
Commando system: Hursthill, Brixton and Crosby
The system is affected by the low water supply from Rand Water. Johannesburg Water says it has isolated the Brixton system to sustain capacity.
Crown Gardens system
Water flow is critically low. Levels are expected to decrease further, which may result in the reservoir’s outlet being isolated.
South Hills tower
Johannesburg Water and Rand Water are investigating the cause of critically low water levels in the tower.
Randjieslaagte reservoir
Water levels in this reservoir are at low levels and are gradually recovering.
Alexander Park reservoir
Water levels are low but stable.
Mopeli has appealed to residents to reduce consumption.
“Customers in the supply zones are requested to reduce consumption as the system recovers. Customers in higher-lying areas will experience low pressure or no water during this period.”
Meanwhile water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, and his Deputy Ministers, David Mahlobo and Dikeledi Magadzi, will on Friday officially launch National Water Month by conducting inspections of bulk water supply projects in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
The Department of Water and Sanitation celebrates National Water Month from 1 to 31 March, which is an expansion of the United Nations (UN) annual World Water Day, which is observed on 22 March.
This year’s National Water Month will be observed under the theme, ‘Accelerating change’, and it is a call on governments of the world, the water sector and society at large to work together to accelerate change to solve water challenges.
The department said the inspections will include a visit to Loskop Bulk Water Supply Project, a cross-boundary project that will benefit communities in both Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga and Elias Motswaledi Local Municipality in Limpopo.