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Essential pump station upgrades: what Johannesburg residents must know about upcoming water cuts

Essential pump station upgrades: what Johannesburg residents must know about upcoming water cuts
An overview of Rand Water Eikenhof pump station on October 20, 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Gauteng is facing a water supply crisis due to continued power blackouts, high temperatures leading to above average water use as well as major continued water losses through bursting pipes and major leaks due to dilapidated infrastructure. (Photo: Gallo Images / Papi Morake)
Julia Evans
By Julia Evans
11 Dec 2024
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Johannesburg residents can expect water disruptions as Rand Water undertakes critical maintenance at its Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations, starting on Friday, 13 December.

On Friday, 13 December Rand Water will begin critical maintenance at its Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations, which supply water to more than two-thirds of Johannesburg. While the maintenance is scheduled to conclude on 16 December, many areas will face water disruptions for days or even weeks due to the complexities of the water system.

The Eikenhof pump station, a major distributor for Rand Water, supplies treated water that Rand Water treats in the south of Gauteng to more than two-thirds of Johannesburg. The Zwartkopjes station is a key booster in Rand Water’s network. 



According to Joburg Water, pumping at Eikenhof will be reduced to 20% capacity for 86 hours (from 7am on 13 December to Monday, 16 December), while Zwartkopjes will operate at 70% capacity for 36 hours (Friday to Saturday), with no pumping at all for the first eight hours.

This maintenance will affect Johannesburg’s water systems, with customers experiencing poor pressure to no water. However, Rand Water clarified that Eikenhof will still be pumping during this maintenance work, and that it’s not a total shutdown. 

Rand Water explained that the maintenance is necessary to address the historical design of Eikenhof’s three interdependent engine rooms, which no longer meet the demands of Johannesburg’s growing population.

“With the increasing demand, there is a need to make the engine rooms independent and increase their flexibility,” it said. “This means that if one engine room is out of service, then others can continue to function.”

Timing 


Rand Water emphasised on Tuesday night that “the timing is ideal” since many industries, businesses and schools will be closed over the maintenance period. As a result, “recovery will be quicker, and it is guaranteed that the system will reach stability before Christmas”.

Joburg water Civil society groups, water researchers and affected residents at the inlet pressure valve during a site visit to Johannesburg Water’s Hursthill Reservoir in Brixton on 9 December 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)


Why it takes days, even weeks, for water to flow after pump station maintenance


When Joburg Water finishes planned maintenance on a pump station, it’s not as simple as turning on a tap and watching water flow immediately. In fact, even after the maintenance wraps up on 16 December it could take several days – or even weeks – for water to fully return to homes.

Unlike electricity, which returns as soon as the power is switched back on, water systems are much more complex.

Water isn’t delivered directly from the pump to your tap. It flows through a network of pipes, reservoirs and towers. These components work together to maintain pressure and ensure consistent supply.

Here’s why it takes days, or weeks, for water to be restored after a pump trip, power failure or planned maintenance (and why so many people are without water for months on end):

  • Pumping at reduced capacity: When a pump operates at lower capacity, less water is pushed into the system. This means reservoirs further along the line don’t fill up as quickly as they normally would;

  • Reservoirs and towers act like storage tanks: Think of reservoirs as large storage tanks. When the pumping station isn’t sending enough water, these tanks start to empty because people are still using water. Refilling them takes time, especially if they’ve been depleted;

  • Gravity and pressure: Water is distributed using gravity and pressure. Areas higher up or further away from the pump (such as high-lying suburbs) are harder to supply when pressure is low. These areas are often the last to have water restored because it flows to the easiest, closest places first;

  • Airlocks and bursts: When water flow stops or slows, air can become trapped in the pipes (airlocks), disrupting the flow when pumping starts again. Additionally, the sudden pressure changes when the system is restarted can cause pipes to burst, delaying recovery; and

  • Demand during recovery: Once water starts flowing again, everyone uses it, including filling tanks, doing laundry and watering gardens. Which is also why there are more water cuts during summer (more people drink water, irrigate gardens when it’s hot). This high demand makes it harder for reservoirs to recover, especially if pumping is still at a reduced rate.


“Unlike power, where if there was a power outage, and electricity is supposed to come back at 2pm, for example, then as soon as the power is switched on at 2pm, residents will have electricity at 2pm,” Nolwazi Dhlamini, spokesperson for Joburg Water, explained to Daily Maverick .

“The water system is different in that the water supply does not immediately return. Reservoir levels continuously change throughout the day.”

During off-peak hours, such as overnight, reservoirs fill up. But come morning, when most people wake and start using water, those levels drop quickly. They rise again during the day when people are at work, only to fall once more in the evening, when water use spikes.

So, after maintenance periods, especially those that take place over a long period, Joburg Water noted that recovery for systems usually can take up to several days. 

Read more: Water shortages

Dhlamini explained that some areas, particularly lower-lying ones, see faster recovery, while high-lying areas (like Coronationville) can take longer. Interruptions, such as burst pipes, power outages and airlocks, can slow the process even further.

She emphasised that all of this means that recovery can take up to several days after the completion of maintenance, on 16 December. 

The DA councillor for Ward 87 in Johannesburg, Kyle Jacobs, noted in a letter to residents on 4 December, following concerns about this shutdown, that due to structural and infrastructure challenges within the Commando System, as well as historical patterns, water supply issues resulting in no water and low pressure are expected to persist for one to two weeks (possibly longer) after the maintenance is completed. 

Joburg water Civil society groups, water researchers and affected communities at the inlet pressure valve during a site visit to Johannesburg Water’s Hursthill Reservoir, part of the Commando System, in Brixton on 9 December 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)


Which areas in Joburg will be affected by the shutdown?


Eikenhof Pump Station supplies the following Joburg Water systems/reservoirs and towers: 

  • Lenasia;

  • Soweto;

  • Randburg/Roodepoort;

  • Parts of Johannesburg central, including the Eagles Nest, Crown Gardens, Aeroton and Alan Manor reservoirs; and

  • Commando System.


Zwartkopjes supplies:

  • Parktown;

  • Berea;

  • Forrest Hill;

  • Naturena;

  • Orlando East; and

  • Hector Norris Pump Station.


Here are full lists of reservoirs and towers. 

Concerns about the shutdowns


Dr Ferrial Adam, executive manager of WaterCAN, has raised concerns about the planned shutdowns at the Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations in mid-December, warning that they could lead to severe water shortages over Christmas.

WaterCAN, a civil society initiative under the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, said that while they support Joburg Water and Rand Water in their maintenance, as well as their water conservation and water demand strategies, “the water realities need to be acknowledged on all levels”.

Adam noted that with this maintenance there is a real possibility of widespread water shortages over Christmas, saying “this clearly once again indicates that senior politicians are out of touch with the harsh realities faced by people on the ground”.

Rand Water told WaterCAN it normally targeted two periods for maintenance – the December break and winter. 

“December break is particularly helpful because Gauteng gets depopulated as most people move out for holidays, but also, industries are closed during this period,” Rand Water told WaterCaN. “So it makes sense to undertake maintenance during low consumption periods to allow for quicker recovery of the system.”

However, Adam argued that Johannesburg residents deserve better planning and clearer communication, adding that “access to water is a basic human right”.

Joburg water Maintenance work on the Eikenhof Pump Station. (Photo: Facebook. @rand_water)



Rand Water’s Eikenhof Pump Station on 20 October 2022. (Photo: Gallo Images / Papi Morake)



Following a meeting and site visit – organised by WaterCAN with Joburg Water – to the Command System on Monday, 9 December, Adam stressed the need for urgent action, stronger political will, and accountability from leaders. 

“We have learnt what they don’t know,” said Adam after the visit to Joburg Water’s Hursthill reservoir (part of the Commando System) and the Helderkruin Satellite Depot, from which operators monitor reservoir levels remotely.

“They don’t know where the water is going, they don’t know which are the areas of high consumption, they don’t know how the water divides from the Commando System to all areas it feeds,” she said.

In response to the concerns and requests to postpone the maintenance, the DA’s Jacobs said last week that city councillors had raised their requests with Johannesburg Water and Rand Water about the timing, and formally wrote to the national government advocating for this on their behalf. 

“However, Rand Water has now responded that postponement is not feasible due to the contractual and financial implications associated with the appointed contractor,” he said. “As a result, all indications are that the maintenance will proceed as planned.”

Jacobs added: “I fully understand the frustration and anxiety this situation causes and share your concerns. However, I strongly encourage all residents to plan and prepare for water disruptions, which includes low pressure or no water, for up to two weeks (possibly longer) after the maintenance period.” DM

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