Midrand water woes: Fixes made, but residents still thirsty
More than a week without water has sparked protests in Midrand, with authorities pledging gradual restoration.
Image: File
Residents in parts of Johannesburg have entered a second week without reliable water supply after a series of system failures and a reservoir leak, sparking protests and mounting frustration in affected communities.
The City of Johannesburg said recovery efforts were delayed by a leak at the Klipfontein Reservoir, which supplies large parts of the Midrand area. Repairs were completed and commissioning finalised on Monday, allowing gradual restoration to begin.
On Tuesday, fed-up Midrand residents took to the streets, demanding answers after going without water for six days.
Joburg Mayor Dada Morero and Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo confirmed that the crisis was triggered by multiple incidents within the Rand Water bulk supply system.
“We understand the pain and suffering that has been caused to residents, particularly in Midrand and surrounding areas,” Mahlobo said.
He explained that a system failure at Rand Water on January 26 initially disrupted supply to Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. Before recovery could be completed, a pipe leak affected one of the metro’s largest reservoirs, carrying about 250 megalitres of water.
“We are pleased that the problem has now been resolved,” Mahlobo said.
As of Tuesday morning, four of the five reservoirs supplying Midrand were operating above 60% capacity. Water restoration has begun in several areas, although residents in high-lying areas may experience further delays as the system continues to recharge.
Mahlobo said government plans to increase reservoir storage capacity to prevent similar disruptions and stressed the need for daily system monitoring and improved coordination between Johannesburg Water, Rand Water and the department.
Morero also assured residents that the city was intensifying its response and closely monitoring the recovery.
“Our reservoirs are recovering, and we should be able to provide water. In some areas supply has already been restored, and in the next few days we expect full water supply,” he said.
He explained that water systems take longer to stabilise than electricity outages because reservoirs must first refill before distribution can resume.
“We regret what residents have gone through and will do everything in our power to resolve the situation,” Morero said, adding that the city had increased water tankers, static tanks and technical teams in affected areas.
Johannesburg Water said several reservoirs, including Erand, Diepsloot, Rabie Ridge and President Park, were showing improvement, with supply returning to low-lying areas first. Tanker services will remain in place until full restoration is achieved.
Residents have been urged to use water sparingly as the system stabilises.
The Star