The fact that the rainy season has not yet started together with heatwave conditions have forced Rand Water to restrict bulk water supply systems across the whole distribution network in order to try to curb the demand as volumes in the reservoirs are continuing to drop.
According to Gerry Holtzhausen (DA ward councillor), water restrictions have not yet been implemented in Lesedi Local Municipal area, but Rand Water might sooner than later request municipalities in their distribution area to enforce water restrictions.
Rand Water said their distribution network is currently under severe stress due to high demand. Earlier last month, Rand Water’s reservoir levels dropped severely when they were unable to pump from the two purification plants caused by Eskom’s power failure that was a result of veld fires around the area.
Rand Water’s system hasn’t fully recovered from that incident that has led to a drop in reservoir levels. Whilst still trying to recover from the low levels or reservoirs, Rand Water experienced a B10 valve failure. B10 is one of the pumping mains from the Zuikerbosch purification station.
This necessitated an 18 hour emergency shutdown on October 17 resulting in a further regression in the capacity as Zuikerbosch could not pump approximately 520 megalitre of water during the shutdown.
In order to prevent total failure of the bulk water supply system, it was decided that customers that get water from the Palmiet system should be restricted. Johannesburg Water and City of Ekurhuleni were restricted by 20% while the City of Tshwane was restricted by 30%.
However, with the current heatwave which has increased the demand, it has become imperative for Rand Water to implement more stringent restrictions across the whole distribution network.
Rand Water said the meters that are going to be restricted have been carefully identified to ensure that the restrictions are implemented with limited interruptions where possible. These restrictions were implemented since October 22.
