Johannesburg - It was unclear on Wednesday when water would be fully restored to parts of Johannesburg and Tshwane following shortages during the week.
“I can't give you a specific day or time,” Rand Water spokesman Justice Mohale said on Wednesday.
He said the Eikenhof and Palmiet pumping stations had been giving problems but there was improvement in water levels and supply.
“Our Meredale reservoir (which supplied mostly to Johannesburg and the West Rand) is standing at 45 percent from yesterday's 22
percent,” he explained.
“The Waterval reservoir (which mainly supplies Ekurhuleni) is standing at 30 percent from yesterday's 20 percent. It has peaked tremendously.”
He said with time water levels would increase.
“There is improvement as time progresses. Areas that did not have water will start receiving water as time progresses.”
Mohale explained that there were problems in supplying water to high-lying areas.
“There are high-lying areas which is not easy for water to be pumped there. As water levels increase, there will be enough pressure to pump water to those high lying areas.”
“As time progresses, we believe water levels will increase.”
Johannesburg Water spokeswoman Millicent Kabwe was also unable to say when water would be fully restored,
“I can't say at this stage when that will happen.”
She declined to give an update on the water situation in Johannesburg, referring only to a press statement sent out on Tuesday.
“Yesterday's statement is the only update we have.”
In Tuesday's statement, Kabwe said water supply was back to normal in most parts of Johannesburg.
She said most reservoirs and water towers were recovering their water levels.
“Only two percent of the residents of the city are still experiencing low water pressures and no water situation,” she said at the time.
However, The Star reported on Wednesday that there was a growing list of suburbs still without water, some in their second week.
Ekurhuleni municipality spokesman Themba Gadebe did not have an update yet on the water situation there or when supplies would be fully restored.
His colleague, Lindela Mashigo, said it was unknown when water would be restored,
“It is dependent on Rand Water. I don't know if certain parts of Tshwane have been restored.”
Department of Water Affairs spokesman Sputnik Ratau could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday. - Sapa