Germiston residents face a dry spell as a water outage enters its second week, adding to growing frustration over an increasingly unreliable supply.

The latest interruption has left residents without a consistent supply of water for almost two weeks, mounting concerns over the impact on households, schools, clinics and facilities caring for elderly residents.

The issue was formally raised with the South African Human Rights Commission in May because of the impact of the repeated outages on residents and vulnerable members of the community.

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According to records compiled by the Primrose Ratepayers Association, the frequency and duration of water interruptions have continued to increase.

“The records submitted to authorities also do not include the latest outages experienced during September,” said Primrose Ratepayers Association chairman David Hutch-Barr.

Hutch-Barr said residents are demanding clarity on what is causing the repeated failures and whether the responsibility lies with the City of Ekurhuleni, Rand Water or both entities.

Among the questions being raised are the root cause of the ongoing water supply failures, what corrective measures are being implemented and when residents can expect a reliable supply.

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Residents are also questioning the effectiveness of emergency measures provided during outages.

Emergency water tanks have been deployed in some affected areas as a contingency measure, but residents say these are not always adequate. Some tanks are empty, inaccessible or simply unable to meet the demand of communities affected by prolonged outages.

Hutch-Barr said this situation is particularly concerning for schools, clinics and care facilities for the elderly, where access to water is essential for hygiene, sanitation and day-to-day care.

The association has called for the city to provide a clear contingency plan for communities affected by prolonged interruptions, rather than relying solely on emergency water tankers and water tanks.

“We are demanding greater transparency from the city regarding the condition of the water network and the measures being taken to prevent repeated failures so residents can plan better,” said Hutch-Barr.

While residents say they want to engage constructively with the authorities, they insist communities deserve clear communication and accountability when a basic service is disrupted for extended periods.

Residents have formally requested an urgent written response from the relevant authorities and an opportunity to engage with officials responsible for the water network.

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The latest outage proves that water interruptions have become normal, and residents say they want more than temporary relief — they want answers on why the interruptions continue and a concrete plan to ensure that reliable water becomes the norm.

An enquiry was sent to the City of Ekurhuleni on September 30, requesting comment by October 2 at 10:00.

At the time of going to print, no comment had been received.