Rand Water maintenance to proceed
The scheduled maintenance is part of Rand Water’s efforts to enhance plant reliability and efficiency.
Johannesburg Water has announced that planned maintenance by Rand Water at the Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations will take place this month, despite concerns from residents about its timing during a heatwave.
The maintenance, which is essential to improving system reliability and efficiency, will begin on December 13 and is expected to affect water supply to various areas across Johannesburg.
At the Eikenhof pump station, the maintenance will last for 86 hours, from 07:00 on December 13 to December 16. While an interruption in supply is expected, Johannesburg Water has clarified that the disruption will not be continuous, as intermittent pumping will provide some relief. Areas likely to be affected include Soweto, Randburg, Roodepoort, Lenasia, Commando and parts of Johannesburg central, including Eagles Nest, Crown Gardens, Aeroton and Alan Manor reservoirs.
Maintenance at the Zwartkopjes will last for 36 hours, from 05:00 on December 13 to December 14, affecting areas such as Crown Gardens, Parktown, Berea, Naturena, Aeroton, Orlando East and the Hector Norris Pump Station, where residents may experience poor pressure or no water at all.
Johannesburg Water initially explored the possibility of postponing the maintenance to January due to the current heatwave. However, contractors quoted a staggering R27m to delay the project, making it financially unfeasible. As a result, the work will proceed as planned. Clr Florence Roberts of Ward 83 has urged residents to prepare for potential disruptions and emphasised that the reliability of water tankers, provided as an alternative supply, cannot always be guaranteed. She has encouraged community members to plan accordingly and share updates within their local networks.
The Johannesburg Water marketing and communications officer, Nolwazi Dhlamini, reassured residents that the utility is working closely with ward councillors to ensure water tankers are deployed where they are most needed.
“Johannesburg Water works closely with ward councillors who provide the entity with information on water tanks they need for their areas, as well as the locations for the water tankers,” she stated.
To mitigate the impact, Johannesburg Water will co-ordinate with ward councillors to deploy water tankers to the affected regions. The utility has also committed to providing progress updates throughout the maintenance period. However, residents are warned to brace for challenges, as the combination of the maintenance and the heatwave will likely test their patience. Residents with further questions are encouraged to contact Johannesburg Water or Rand Water directly.
