UPDATE: No reprieve from city’s ongoing water crisis
There seems to be no clear answers for the continued water interruptions.
Water supply from the Ekurhuleni metro reservoirs remains strained due to various breakdowns in Rand Water’s supply chain.
Taps once again ran dry on March 15, affecting Brentwood Park, Goedeburg, Rynfield, Rynfield AH, Farrarmere, Northmead, Northvilla, Airfield and Daveyton.
On March 17, it was reported that the water levels at Vlakfontein 1 and 2 reservoirs, which form part of the Mapleton system, were only 17%.
Benoni 1 and 2 (Northmead), on the Zwartkopjes system, were only 8% full.
According to Ward 27 councillor Lornette Joseph, the prolonged interruption is due to a culmination of faults along the Rand Water’s supply line. She said the council is investigating the reasons why the reservoirs’ water levels are not recovering speedily.
“All the systems have not yet fully recovered following incidents affecting the supply chain, in recent weeks,” said Simon Xaba, Rand Water general manager of operations, in a statement circulated on various service delivery WhatsApp groups.
“Following a power failure at the Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant, pumping of water has recovered to 100%, yet the system is taking time to fill all the affected reservoirs to optimum levels.”
Joseph further stated that the power failure is not the only cause of the outage.
“Although the power failure at the treatment plant had a major effect on water supply, equipment theft, urgent maintenance and burst pipes further exasperated the situation,” she said.
“Due to the metro’s reservoir levels not rising above 20%, pumps supplying water to the affected suburbs had to be temporarily switched off to allow the levels to recover and to safeguard the equipment against possible damage.”
On March 20, it was reported that Vlakfontein 1 and 2 had recovered to 31% and 36% respectively.
Benoni 1 and 2 remain low at 18% and 16%.
The spokesperson for the City of Ekurhuleni, Zweli Dlamini, said in a statement that intermittent supply will continue until such time that the reservoirs, especially Benoni 1 and 2 have recovered to above 20%,
“Being the highest point along the supply chain, Brentwood Park would be the last suburb to fully regain optimal water supply and pressure,” said Dlamini.
“The metro’s department of water and sanitation continues to monitor the situation but residents are urged to assist in conserving water until the system has fully recovered.
“Through coordination with local ward councillors, roving water tankers will continue to supply water to residents at strategic collection points with clinics, schools and old age homes taking preference.”
At the time of publication, no further updates or a comment had been received from Rand Water.
What our Facebook readers say:
• Sean Venske: When is Rand Water going to stop treating its customers like idiots and explain why Benoni is constantly hit with water problems while other areas in the East Rand are not?
• Adrian Stevens: The lack of credible communication from the council is non-existent. The vague messages on the WhatsApp groups are pathetic. A meeting was held by the mayor and Rand Water to discuss this issue and seek a positive solution. This was a month ago and clearly, this incompetent mayor has failed again. This constant situation of the reservoirs not getting a sufficient supply of water is unacceptable. We are not receiving a constant water supply but our water bills have doubled because we are paying for the air passing through our meters. The WhatsApp groups are changed to admin only. On the Benoni Community Facebook page admins blocks all water-related posts, therefore, restricting and controlling the flow of information. There is always a subtle whiff of sabotage suggested by the DA but it seems more like incompetence.
• Des van der Walt: Absolutely despicable! There is always some issue with water in Benoni. Litany of excuses is never in short supply. Further proof of yet another failed African state.
• Leo Simelane: This is nonsense, in Etwatwa we have had water one day a week since last year. This nonsense must come to an end.
• Carel Duath: Blame someone or something but never will issues be sorted out, paying for services not being delivered shame on you Ekurhuleni Council. Where is mayor Campbell and her people in all of this? Blaming Rand Water and vice versa but we must pay for non-service delivery.
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