Tshwane continues to consume more water than its licensed quota

Water consumption in the Tshwane metro continues to be higher than the legally licensed quotas, putting extreme pressure on the provision of water from Rand Water.

According to Rand Water, its systems are dropping fast because of extremely high water consumption.

The water utility said it continues to supply at maximum capacity, but availability is dropping fast and the cities of Tshwane and Johannesburg use the most water.

Graphs provided by the utility in a statement indicate that the level of stored water has dropped from nearly 70% to below 40% since January 19, amid increased demand owing to high temperatures, electricity outages and the utility’s planned maintenance work.

Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo said Tshwane is consuming water above the green line (licensed quota) and is going the wrong way.

“Rand Water therefore calls on the abovementioned customer to reduce their consumption to avoid system collapse which will inevitably affect other customers as well.

“The fact that the water systems are interlinked means high consumption in one area impacts the sustainable provision in other areas,” Maroo said.

She stressed that water conservation is a joint responsibility that must be observed and practised by all to ensure sustainable and equitable supply and provision.

Tshwane has also experienced massive pipe bursts and illegal water connections which affect the consumption of water.

Metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said the hot weather is typically associated with increased water consumption, which puts a strain on the water supply system.

“Also, the water leaks experienced across the city which are often caused by aged infrastructure, damages by third parties and root intrusions, illegal connections, significant and substantial water pressure changes within and from outside the network.”

He said to address the problem, the city is implementing a pipe replacement programme wherein most critical pipes are replaced with new pipes.

“The metro is also installing four pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) in areas with high pressure in [the] 2024/25 financial year. The impact of these efforts has been noticed by the reduction of non-revenue water by 0.4% to 34.0% in the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year,” Mashigo said.

Mashigo said furthermore that the city has adopted a response plan which requires all leaks to be responded to within 48 hours.

“In this regard, the city’s Regional Operations and Coordination (ROC) team has repaired 7 393 leaks since November 1, 2024. Systems have also been put in place to ensure availability of materials at internal stores and a recruitment process for plumbers and artisans is currently underway. Service providers have also been appointed to augment the internal teams.”

Mashigo said if the current water situation worsens, the city will implement higher levels of water restrictions, which come with a higher tariff and stringent rules on how water should be used.

“The implementation of various restriction levels is to avoid the depletion of the water supply. Reservoir and network restrictions are also implemented in dreadful situations.”

He warned that connecting to the city’s water infrastructure is illegal and a criminal offence punishable by law.

“Residents are urged to report such suspicious activities to the Tshwane Metro Police Department on 012 358 7095/6 for a site inspection and removal/disconnection.”

According to Mashigo, the city has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Rand Water to collaborate in several areas, including water conservation and demand management, to ensure a co-ordinated approach to managing water resources.

“Tshwane, together with the other metros in Gauteng, are having daily technical meetings to monitor and report on the status of the water supply and implementation of water restrictions.”

He said Tshwane is once again conducting educational and awareness campaigns through schools and community engagement.

“In addition, the city on a regular basis issues media releases, Dear Residents communiqués, publications, social media posts to inform the residents about the importance of water conservation and provides tips on how communities can use water sparingly.”

🚨Media Statement🚨
WATER CONSUMPTION EXTREMELY HIGH‼️@JHBWater @CityTshwane @CityofJoburgZA @GautengProvince @GDCoGTA @DWS_RSA #RWWaterDemandManagement #RWWaterSupply #RWReduceConsumption#RWWaterSustainability #RWWaterConservation
[NS] pic.twitter.com/ACgEyno5Qf

— Rand Water (@Rand_Water) February 12, 2025

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