Long queues for water tankers seen in Midrand before restoration
It remains unclear when water will be resorted in some parts of Midrand suburbs as they remain without water for over a week.
Despite having their water restored, many residents in President Park, Ebony Park and Allandale, had to get water from emergency water pipes on the side of the road.
In a joint statement, Rand Water and Johannesburg Water said water was fully restored on September 23, after going almost two weeks without it.
Before restoration, many residents were left stranded due to what Johannesburg Water called ‘critically empty’ reservoirs and towers due to high water consumption.
Boshoff Road in President Park was one place abuzz with desperate residents who needed to form long queues daily in a bid to get basic service delivery – water.
Residents came with their buckets, jerry cans and water dispenser containers to get water from the emergency water pipes, also known as roadside faucets.
Although water tankers and JoJo tanks are placed for the community, the water runs out as soon as it gets filled.
Ward 132 councillor and Midrand constituency chairperson Annette Deppe said the persistent water shortages need urgent action.#
Deppe said residents have been enduring a prolonged and distressing water shortage crisis, with some areas experiencing water disruptions for as long as more than five days.
“The situation has been exacerbated by a lack of adequate response and solutions from Joburg Water, leaving the community in a state of frustration and concern. The leadership and strategies in place to manage and resolve this issue are in dire need of reevaluation. The DA in Johannesburg is concerned for the citizens of Midrand, and firmly believes that the current state of affairs is untenable and demands immediate and decisive action,” Deppe said in a statement.
She urged Joburg Water and all relevant authorities to prioritise the urgent resolution of this water crisis. Deppe added that residents have endured undue hardships for far too long, and the DA implored those in positions of responsibility to take the necessary measures to ensure a reliable and consistent water supply for residents.
“The resilience of the Midrand community has been tested, but the DA remains united and committed to a swift and effective resolution to this crisis. We call upon all stakeholders to work collaboratively and transparently to address this issue and provide our residents with the essential resource they deserve.”
Due to the water crisis challenges, Noordwyk Primary School released its learners on September 21, while there was no school on September 22.
On their Facebook page, Lynelle Eloff, the school principal said, “Dear parents/guardians, please be advised that Midrand is currently experiencing water challenges and it affects our school. Due to the nature of the problem, the school will release learners immediately today to prevent health hazards in our ablution facilities. There will be no aftercare this afternoon or tomorrow.”
She said the school will remain closed as Rand Water cannot guarantee that the problem will be fixed overnight.
Rand Water and Johannesburg Water said in a statement, “We are pleased to announce that full pumping capacity has been restored in all our systems and gradually filling the depleted reservoirs. This follows the water supply interruption to customers because of severe thunderstorms that damaged the powerlines at the Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant. However, we urge all consumers to use water sparingly as we have observed an increase in water demand due to high temperatures.”
The two power utilities said high water consumption is discouraged not because of affordability but rather owing to scarcity.
The entities added that it was significant to mention that uncontrolled high-water consumption has already put a strain on Rand Water’s systems but they will continue monitoring developments and provide updates.
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