Gauteng water outage: Here’s how long it could take water to be restored after maintenance

Johannesburg residents face a challenging period ahead as major water infrastructure maintenance work is set to disrupt supplies across multiple areas from early June through July, with water restoration potentially taking up to two weeks after each maintenance phase concludes.

Rand Water will undertake extensive maintenance operations from 3 June to 21 July 2025, affecting several Johannesburg Water systems and leaving residents with reduced pressure or complete water outages during the seven-week period.

The bulk water supplier’s infrastructure work will impact critical supply systems serving areas from Sandton to Soweto.

Johannesburg Water has warned residents that recovery will not be immediate once maintenance concludes.

“After each maintenance has been completed, it will take maximum 14 days for the system to fully recover, and for normal water supply to return,” the utility stated.

Preparation efforts underway

With the extensive maintenance period approaching, Johannesburg Water is urging residents to begin water storage preparations immediately.

The utility said it would establish alternative water supply points at strategic locations within residential areas, though residents are strongly encouraged to store water independently to reduce strain on the system.

“Residents can store water a few days before the start of the maintenance, to ease the impact on reservoirs & towers,” Johannesburg Water advised.

It recommended the use of clean containers with tight lids stored in cool, dark places, with consideration for pets and cooking needs.

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Palmiet system disruption

The maintenance schedule begins with work on the Palmiet System on 3 June 2025.

It will affect:

• Sandton Systems,
• Alexander Park Reservoir,
• South Hills Tower,
• Randjieslaagte Reservoir,
• Linksfield Reservoir, and
• Midrand Systems.

This initial phase will run from 06:00 to 16:00 on 3 June, involving Klipriviersberg isolation for cleaning and inspection, reducing pumping capacity to 67 percent for ten hours.

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Extended Eikenhof system maintenance

The most significant disruption will affect the Eikenhof System, serving the Commando System including:

• Hursthill,
• Brixton and Crosby areas,
• Lenasia Systems,
• Randburg and Roodepoort Systems,
• Soweto Systems,
• Crown Gardens Reservoir,
• Eagles Nest Reservoir, and
• Aeroton Reservoir.

This maintenance will occur in two phases, both beginning on 30 June 2025 at 05:00.

The first phase, concluding on 2 July at 05:00, involves pipe leak repairs at the Rand Water Zuikerbosch Plant.

During this period, pumping will cease entirely for six hours, then increase to 50 percent capacity for 42 hours, before reaching 80 percent for the remaining 19 days.

Simultaneously, a second Eikenhof System maintenance operation will run until 21 July 2025, focusing on cleaning sedimentation tanks at the Rand Water Vereeniging Plant.

This work will follow the same pumping reduction schedule, with no pumping for six hours, followed by 50 percent capacity for 42 hours, then 80 percent for the remainder of the period.

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Zwartkojes system work

The Zwartkojes System will experience complete pumping cessation during valve replacement work at Zwartkopjes Station from 30 June at 05:00 until 2 July at 07:00.

This will affect:

• Crown Gardens,
• Eagles Nest Reservoir,
• Parktown,
• Berea,
• Forrest Hill,
• Alan Manor,
• Naturena, and
• Hector Norris Pump Station areas.

The extended recovery period following maintenance completion represents a significant challenge for residents.

The maximum 14-day restoration timeline means that even after maintenance work concludes on 21 July, some areas may not see normal water supply return until early August.

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