Johannesburg Water has laid out a chain of technical failures and bulk-water interruptions that left Melville residents battling unreliable water supplies in recent weeks.

The utility said the problems began with technical difficulties affecting the Hursthill 2 reservoir Abercom interlink, an important part of the Commando system supplying areas including Melville.

Emergency repairs to the Hursthill 2 interlink valve began on September 3 after a technical fault disrupted supply. The work, initially expected to be completed the following day, was delayed by technical challenges.

Read more: Johannesburg Water tackles sewage overflow near Emmarentia Dam

Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the work involved welding upstream, installing and aligning the Hursthill 2 interlink valve and isolating the affected infrastructure. Once the valve was successfully aligned, the Crosby pump station was able to resume pumping towards Hursthill 1 and the Brixton systems. However, the repairs were followed by another setback.

On September 9, a major burst pipe near Westpark Cemetery on Judith Road affected Hursthill 2. The affected supply was isolated while repairs were carried out, with Johannesburg Water saying its teams worked to isolate the affected pipeline locally so that most of the Hursthill 2 supply zone could continue receiving water, depending on available bulk supply.

The utility also pointed to interruptions outside its immediate infrastructure. A Rand Water interruption at Zuikerbosch on September 9 reduced Eikenhof’s pumping capacity, affecting the Commando system and delaying recovery. Another major disruption followed on September 13 when a power outage at Rand Water’s Vereeniging pump station reduced pumping to about 50%.

Also read: Melville water disruptions fuel resident anger and boycott threats

The reduction affected several Johannesburg systems, including Commando, as well as areas in Soweto, Randburg, Roodepoort, Lenasia and the Deep South. The power problem was resolved and pumping returned to full capacity early on September 14. However, Johannesburg Water warned that restoring pumping capacity does not immediately mean every household will have water.

The Commando system is sensitive to changes in supply, with reservoirs needing time to replenish and the network requiring sufficient pressure before normal service returns. Recovery also depends on how quickly residents draw water while the system stabilises.

The utility said it continues monitoring the system while gradually charging pipelines and checking for further leaks. For Melville residents, the explanation comes after weeks of frustration over intermittent or absent water supplies.

Shabalala said residents should understand that the disruptions were not caused by a single failure, but by a combination of infrastructure faults, emergency repairs, a burst pipe and interruptions to bulk-water pumping. The utility continues to provide updates as the affected systems recover.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates!