Joburg Water reduces supply to multiple reservoirs due to increased consumption

Johannesburg Water has implemented throttling in parts of the city.

Alfonso Nqunjana/News24

Johannesburg Water has implemented throttling in parts of the city.Initially planned for Sunday night and Monday morning,the throttling has been extended into Tuesday.Multiple reservoirs will be shut off for up to 14 hours as part of the throttling.

Johannesburg Water implemented throttling on Sunday night in response to increasing water consumption in various areas.

Initially planned for Sunday night and Monday morning,the throttling has now been extended until Tuesday.

“This strategy aims to regulate demand and protect reservoir capacities,thereby stabilising the supply and ensuring a consistent water supply for all residents,” the utility said.

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Reservoirs and towers subjected to throttling daily include Orange Farm High Level reservoir,Lawley reservoir,Lenasia High Level reservoir,Lenasia Hospital Hill reservoir,President Park outlet (networks),Diepsloot reservoir,Robertville reservoir,Grand Central 600 Dia to Glen Austin water supply line.

This was expanded to include Meadowlands,PowerPark,Doornkop North,Roodepoort and Deep Township reservoirs.

Reservoirs and towers subjected to daily throttling through scheduled rotations,as and when required by operational requirements,include Bram Fischer reservoir 1,Fairland reservoir,Brixton reservoir,Hursthill 2 reservoir,Berea reservoir,Alexander Park reservoir,Illovo reservoir,Morningside reservoir,Bryanston reservoir,Doornkop (on the network),Yeoville pump station (reduced pumping),Brixton pump station reduced pumping),South Hills pump station,Northcliff pump station,CR Swart pump station,Helderkruin pump station,Grand Central pump station,Rabie Ridge pump station,Kensington B reservoir,Linden 1&2 reservoir,Honeydew reservoir,Boschkop reservoir,RandPark Ridge reservoir,Cosmo City reservoir,and Allan Manor reservoir.

Johannesburg Water said reservoirs and towers would be subjected to throttling daily for 14 hours.

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“Times are approximate and water may still flow briefly after closure,and may take one to three hours to fully return after reopening. Johannesburg Water will also use this time to complete outstanding repairs and maintenance,” the utility said.

READ | Dry taps and rising tensions: Water supply crisis leads to protests in Johannesburg

News24 reported that on Friday MMC Jack Sekwaila,of the Environment and Infrastructure Services Department,who spoke at a press briefing regarding the state of water supply,interventions and mitigating strategies to stabilise and improve the water system,said the water system in Johannesburg would be stable in time for the G20 summit in November,despite current intermittent supply.

The briefing comes after weeks of little to no water supply in Johannesburg as issues with Rand Water,increased temperature,and leaks continue to mar the system.

The ailing Commando System is again affected and in the news after several protests in Coronationville,where residents have gone weeks without water.

ALSO READ | Johannesburg promises flowing taps before the G20

The area,and others that have issues,are being throttled,meaning that the water only comes back in a trickle at night,but is gone again in the morning.

He added that while residents were using more water than Rand Water allocated,the City was also losing 44.8% of its water as non-revenue water.

Johannesburg Water MD Ntshavheni Mukwevho said the water losses,44.8%,cost the entity R3 billion annually. The non-revenue water comprises physical losses - 34% are leaks,and around 11% is due to illegal connections and water given away for free by the City.