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South Africa

Gauteng water storage ‘could soon be depleted’ — Rand Water warns the crisis has arrived

Gauteng’s bulk water supplier has warned that water could soon be depleted if the province’s municipalities do not urgently deal with sky-high consumption and leaks.
Gauteng water storage ‘could soon be depleted’ — Rand Water warns the crisis has arrived Source: Own research of Johannesburg Water reported outages and consumer information/ChatGPT for charting

Councillors in the City of Johannesburg said on Sunday that they feared for the week ahead as the metro battled a heatwave coupled with failing infrastructure, leading to depleted resources.

The latest data from 11 October shows that Johannesburg is way above consumption targets, with Tshwane and Ekurhuleni climbing too. 

Daily Maverick reported that Johannesburg’s water supply skirted Day Zero for a fourth time last week, and councillors warned on Sunday, October 13, that they feared for the week ahead because of heatwave conditions.

Read more: Water crisis — Johannesburg skirts Day Zero for fourth time in a year

Read more: ‘It’s going be a tough summer,’ warns expert after more water cuts in Joburg

“Water storage levels throughout Gauteng province have significantly declined due to excessive water withdrawals by municipalities, raising serious concerns. Rand Water has repeatedly warned municipalities in Gauteng about this potential crisis. Unfortunately, the crisis we have sought to prevent has now materialised. The water supply systems in Gauteng, including Rand Water reservoirs, are critically low, and the situation is anticipated to worsen with the ongoing heatwave,” Rand Water said. 

A data investigation by Daily Maverick has shown how the water crisis has deepened in the past two months and the first nine days of October. DM

Hauteng water Source: Own research of Johannesburg Water reported outages and consumer information / ChatGPT for charting.



Comments (10)

Patterson Alan John Oct 15, 2024, 01:21 PM

Should anyone be surprised? With freedom from Apartheid came the responsibility to run the country and it has been an abject failure. If anyone thinks this is a sad state of affairs, imagine what the situation will be in 2030! Enjoy the little water you have now and prepare to reminisce in 2030.

cwf5108@gmail.com Oct 14, 2024, 10:23 AM

Tshwane and Ekhureleni (whatever) are soon to follow.

cwf5108@gmail.com Oct 14, 2024, 10:23 AM

Tshwane and Ekhureleni (whatever) are soon to follow.

Rick Cooper Oct 14, 2024, 10:17 AM

The crisis hasn't arrived; it governs.

Jacques Wessels Oct 14, 2024, 09:02 AM

Lamenting the state of JHB or any situation simply makes no difference as much as people call for change & why voters don’t change alliances faced with decline nothing will change until you join community based organisations & work for change.

marthinuswissing Oct 14, 2024, 08:37 AM

Local Government reports to the state, whose accountable person is Cyril Ramaphosa. The top local government responsibility is maintaining infrastructure development and regulation. It is time that Rand Water and Jhb Mayor now take full responsibility and put the plans on the table!

Kevin Venter Oct 14, 2024, 08:14 AM

Proudly brought to you by the ANC. The voters in Jhb clearly want this decay since they keep voting for the ANC so that Panyaza and his band of thieves can loot the coffers. When oh when, will the voters actually wake up to what is actually going on.

ttshililo2 Oct 13, 2024, 07:29 PM

Meanwhile, the deputy president, Alex mafia & former premier of said province is ensconced in Steyn City: an estate with its own water treatment plant, completely shielded from this mess. How he affords such a palace is another story- these swines are irrepressibly shameless.

paul@volkerconsulting.co.za Oct 13, 2024, 07:11 PM

The 3 main metros in Gauteng are dying. If I owned a property there I would get rid of it in a hurry.

Grumpy Old Man Oct 13, 2024, 06:51 PM

Ferial has done an incredible job - both on these pages and on the radio - of highlighting the rapid collapse of JHB. JHB has suffered multiple catastrophes & our latest 'Better life 4 All' 'World Class African City' Gift - a bankrupt City with no water. We need to be placed under Administration