JOHANNESBURG WATER CRISIS: Measures Announced to Tackle Water Shortages

Johannesburg residents have been facing regular water disruptions, affecting daily life and economic activities.

This has prompted an emergency meeting on Sunday, 10 November 2024, by Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majodina , joined by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Deputy Ministers David Mahlobo and Sello Seitlholo, Gauteng’s Cooperative Governance MEC Jacob Mamabolo, Johannesburg’s Mayor Dada Morero, and leaders from Rand Water and Johannesburg Water.

Key issues identified include the rising water demand due to population and economic growth, exacerbated by infrastructure issues like leaks and ageing pipes. Johannesburg Water has now outlined steps to manage the crisis:

From Thursday November 14, water supply will be reduced between 9 pm and 4 am to help reservoir levels recover.
Emergency Repairs: Additional repair teams are being mobilized to tackle leaks more quickly, aiming to reduce response times from 48 to 24 hours.
Pressure Management: 45 new Smart Pressure Controllers are being installed to reduce water losses during low-demand periods.
Expanded Repair Resources: More trucks and repair teams will be deployed to improve service, especially over weekends.
Illegal Connection Cut-offs: Unauthorized water connections in key informal settlements will be disconnected to ease strain on the system.
Leak Detection: Johannesburg Water is accelerating its leak detection program, having already surveyed over 12,100 km of pipelines and reducing water demand by over 9 billion litres annually.
Public-Private Partnership: The city is partnering with National Treasury to secure private funding and expertise to reduce water wastage.

Additionally, Rand Water is investing R35 billion to expand storage and treatment capacity, in preparation for additional water from the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) by 2028.

Efforts are also underway to reduce the city’s high water loss rate of 35%, well above the international standard. To address long-term water scarcity, a large-scale public awareness campaign is being launched to encourage residents to save water.

The political leadership in the three spheres of government are confident that these measures will be implemented with the necessary urgency. It was agreed that similar meetings will be held every Sunday to monitor progress.