Johannesburg - Rand Water on Friday decided to pump an additional 100 megalitres, which amounts to 40 Olympic-sized swimming pools, to affected suburbs in a bid to ease the water crisis which has hit several Gauteng suburbs over the last week.
And the good news is that Rand Water has retracted its statement on Friday morning that there would be water rationing.
Although the board had taken the decision to ration water, it said there was a difference between a decision being taken and its implementation.
The crisis has led not only to huge inconvenience to residents and businesses, but to blocked sewers, parched gardens and water bursts as the water was turned on again.
This extra 100ML is over and above the normal volume of 3 500ML channelled to Palmiet from the purification plant.
Rand Water spokesman Justice Mohale confirmed the water supplied from the Zuikerbosch water purification plant on Thursday had been increased by 100ML to the Palmiet pumping station.
The Palmiet station crashed earlier this week after the theft of Eskom equipment.
Mohale said this should start to fill the reservoirs, which have fallen below the 50 percent threshold required for pumping water to higher lying areas.
He said he could not confirm when, where or even if water rationing would take place despite a separate decision made on Thursday to close the valves to certain reservoirs to redirect water to the affected areas.
However, Mohale said on Friday morning that rationing was just “one of the options” Rand Water was considering.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, stepped into the fray last night. She ordered Rand Water to buck up their systems.
During the meeting Mokonyane held with Rand Water last night, she said the water authority had admitted they had not acted sufficiently in combating the water crisis.
“Rand Water acceded that there may have been internal issues that could have been handled better and vowed that going forth, the board would intensely improve on matters of operation,” Mokonyane’s office said in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement said Mokonyane had set up a “war room” in which government officials and the relevant water authorities could meet.
The minister said Rand Water had to improve its communication.
“You have a responsibility to the communities you serve to close the disjuncture between your commitment to the communities and what is eventually delivered,” she said.
Rand Water executive manager of bulk water distribution, Godfrey Maumela, said water rations would be a last resort, while Joburg Water said it had no plans to ration supplies.
Joburg Water spokeswoman Millicent Kabwe said the Hursthill reservoir, Alexandra Park, President Park and Randjesfontein towers had recovered and water supplies had been restored to Westdene, Hursthill, Albertville, Martindale, Sophiatown, Westbury, Mount Clare, Coronationville, Bosmont, Newlands, Benrose, Denver and Malvern.
Rabie Ridge, Mayibuye, Risana, South Hills, Thulisa Park and surrounding areas still have no water.
“We have made temporary provision by way of water tanks. In the Rabie Ridge area, we have roaming tanks and in South Hills, we have a stationary tank at the water tower and at 21 Risana Road,” Kabwe said.
“We are giving special attention and priority to hospitals, clinics and schools.”
Residents pump up rage:
*No power, no water… eish so much for world class Joburg. - Clarence Watts (@clarencesdb)
*Joburg is still out of running water in Linmeyer, when will something drastic happen? - Shene Van Zyl (@shenevz)
*The water crisis is spreading like wild fire in Joburg, yet every day we are told resovours are filling up. Someone is lying to us. - Matome Senyolo (@matomesenyolo)
*No water in Primrose, Sunnyridge when wil we get water back? #GPWaterCrisis - DJB (@DeanjBuser)
*Day 7 - No water in Marlands Germiston. Not one drop! #GPWaterCrisis - Jackie van Pletzen (@Jax1981)
*Noordheuwel Krugersdorp now without water for 10 days. Had water last night @10pm but dry now. Mogale very quiet - Nico Audie (@Nikilaai)
*Brng back our water.2016 local election is around - Moloto Mabatamela (@MMabatamela)
*The aging infrastructure excuse for water shortage is the same excuse as electric crisis. We never seem to learn. Unaceptble - Nkandla Soapie (@ComradeFreedom)
*Still no water in laudium. Water crisis day 5 - Fathima Essa Alli (@Fathima_Essa)
*Water shortage is a crisis when it affects the rich in GP but most poor ppl are struggling everyday without… water access. - Hlupheka Mtileni (@Hlupzito)
The Star