Bodenstein claimed that after more than two months, Johannesburg Water has failed to confirm the root cause of the disruptions.

“We need answers, not speculation. The fact that we still don’t have a definitive diagnosis over 60 days is unacceptable.”

Read more: Johannesburg Water fails to show for water crisis meeting in Blairgowrie

He confirmed the problems began around August 26. It has not been one continuous outage, but repeated interruptions, low pressure and prolonged periods without water.

He has repeatedly escalated the matter, met with Johannesburg Water officials, requested emergency tankers and raised the crisis with the mayor.

The ward councillor said he also attempted to hold a public meeting at Blairgowrie Recreation Centre, but a misunderstanding between Johannesburg Water, residents and himself prevented the intended engagement, adding that he has continued pushing for answers and accountability.

Widespread impact across suburbs

“Robindale has also been hard hit, along with surrounding areas supplied by the Linden 1 system. Some residents experience intermittent supply, while others go days without water. The impact is widespread, but varies considerably between streets.”

He added that what makes this situation even more concerning is that Johannesburg is now facing further water restrictions and supply throttling as Rand Water warns of excessive consumption.

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“Residents are being told to use water sparingly, yet we have municipal infrastructure that isn’t functioning and leaks that remain unattended.”

Utility points to weather and demand

In response to the issue, Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said the city is experiencing increased pressure on its water supply system as rising temperatures and warmer weather contribute to higher consumption.

“This increased demand is placing pressure on the bulk water supply system and affecting the ability of reservoirs and towers to maintain sufficient storage,” she said.

She said over the past few weeks, as temperatures soared, the City of Johannesburg has continued to experience week-on-week high water consumption. “The effects of El Niño have also placed additional pressure on the region’s water resources and supply systems.”

For Johannesburg Water, increased demand adds an additional challenge to an already strained water supply system, and the reservoir and tower levels are critically low.

The entity is prioritising the repair of water leaks and bursts, addressing both the existing backlog and newly reported incidents.

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