Johannesburg Water answers resident’s questions concerning the water crisis
Discover how Johannesburg Water is tackling significant challenges, from structural cracks to increasing demand, and learn about their proactive strategies to ensure a reliable water supply for residents.
As the water crisis in Johannesburg is still ongoing, residents of surrounding areas had questions of their own, sparking curiosity on the problematic reservoirs.
The Northcliff Melville Times attended the Johannesburg Water (JW) media briefing on November 28, on behalf of the residents, and asked these questions to Logan Munsamy, senior manager for water demand management, in the hopes of getting answers. These were the questions we asked, compiled by Vaunn Kelly, a resident of Emmarentia, alongside Munsamy’s answers.
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1. When was the Hursthill 2 structural crack first identified by JW?
The structural cracks in the HH2 reservoir were not a recent discovery. Over the past 3–4 years, JW has been intensively monitoring and addressing these issues. What began as superficial cracks have progressively worsened over time, indicating that the problem has been developing for several years, rather than being identified just a few months ago.
2. Why is the Hursthill 2 inflow rate persistently low, and what is JW doing to fix it, and by when?
The low inflow rate at the Hursthill reservoir is attributed to the complex water supply system. The reservoir is fed by the Commando meter, which is part of a network that distributes water across various regions, including Randburg and Soweto. The total demand on the system has increased, leading to a depletion of water before it reaches the reservoir. This situation is compounded by high consumption rates from residents, which prevents adequate recovery of the reservoir. To address this, JW is implementing strategies to improve the inflow, although specific timelines for resolution cannot be provided.
3. What steps has JW taken already to reduce excessive water losses in the entire system?
A multi-pronged strategy has been implemented to tackle water losses, which includes:
• Repairing leaking reservoirs, with 22 identified as significant sources of leaks.
• Implementing pressure management and utilising smart technology to monitor and control water flow.
• Installing embedded sensors on pipelines to detect underground leaks.
• Enforcing by-laws to combat illegal connections and non-payment issues.
This comprehensive approach aims to reduce water consumption over a five-year period, with ongoing adjustments as necessary.
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4. What is the cause behind the almost 200 million litres of extra water (approx 15%) which Johannesburg started consuming in mid-2023, and has not yet been able to reduce, despite the level 1 restrictions?
The increase in water consumption is linked to the aging of water meters, which can either under-read or over-read consumption. As meters are replaced, more accurate readings are obtained, which may explain the spike in reported usage. This trend is not unique to JW; similar increases have been observed in neighboring municipalities like Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
5. What is JW doing to ring-fence sufficient funding for proper maintenance of the JW system?
To ensure adequate funding for maintenance and upgrades, there is a national drive for municipalities to ring-fence budgets specifically for repairs and maintenance. A significant portion of JW’s budget is allocated to these areas, which is linked to national incentives aimed at improving infrastructure.
6. What proactive measures, and monitoring measures, does JW have to immediately identify when reservoirs or pumps are not working optimally?
JW employs a 24-hour telemetry system with two control rooms staffed around the clock. This system monitors signals from reservoirs and pump stations, alerting staff to issues such as power failures or low water levels. While the monitoring is robust, the increased demand can delay response times, sometimes taking over a week to address certain issues. However, we are committed to improving response times and ensuring system reliability.
As the city is still experiencing the water woes, JW has revealed that infrastructure and demand are a problem in terms of the reservoirs. It highlights the ongoing challenges and strategies employed by them to manage water supply and infrastructure effectively.
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