Water utility Rand Water has implemented stage 2 water restrictions due to the high water demand that was putting a strain on the water network over the past two weeks, amid a heatwave in Gauteng.
Johannesburg Water said yesterday that the water utility’s network in various parts of Johannesburg was severely strained due to high water usage.
“The direct impact is extremely low levels within various reservoirs and towers. Customers are urgently requested to lower water usage to assist with sustaining already constrained systems,” Johannesburg Water said.
The South African Weather Service said yesterday that there would be a slight drop in temperatures today but the heat wave in Gauteng, North West, northern Free State, and in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga would continue until Friday.
The worst affected systems included the Commando system, where the Crosby, Brixton and Hursthill systems were critically low to empty; the Soweto system, where Eagle Nest, Glenvista, and Naturena reservoirs were also at critically low levels; and the Central system, where Crown Gardens and Alan Manor reservoirs were at critically low levels.
“Pumps supplying Crown Gardens tower have been isolated due to low reservoir levels. South Hills tower is on bypass supply due to lower supply from Rand Water’s Meyer’s Hill reservoir. Customers in higher lying areas will experience low pressure/no water during this period,” the water utility said.
Johannesburg Water requested that customers reduce consumption, only using water for human and household needs, which will significantly assist in recovery of the affected systems.
The City of Tshwane further announced that Rand Water notified it, the City of Joburg and the City of Ekurhuleni about the implementation of stage 2 water restrictions.
“The water utility indicated that it had noted over the last two weeks that water consumption had increased significantly, resulting in a decline of their overall reservoir storage capacity from 52% to 38%. This necessitated Rand Water to implement, with immediate effect, stage 2 (30%) restrictions on several high consuming customer meters within each municipality, in order to reduce the current high water consumption,” the city said.
Stage 2 water restrictions mean no irrigation or watering of gardens with a hosepipe or irrigation systems, no using of a hosepipe to clean driveways or patios, no washing of vehicles with a hosepipe and no filling or topping up of swimming pools or water features.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng department of health said the water supply challenges were persisting and continued to negatively affect the smooth provision of healthcare services. Nevertheless, Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Children’s Hospital were still offering their services.
“The water supply challenge has put healthcare workers at the facilities under pressure as they try to mitigate against the current situation. The Gauteng department of health appeals to the community to bear with us as we navigate through this challenge and also reiterates the call for the public to use water sparingly,” the department said.