Ekurhuleni residents reminded about water outage over weekend

The City of Ekurhuleni is urging residents to prepare for the 59-hour water outage that is set to kick off today (26 May 2023) as planned.

Residents are being reminded once more that Rand Water will be conducting maintenance on the water network, necessitating the temporary interruption of water supply. The outage will begin at 6pm on Friday, 26 May, and is expected to conclude at 5am on Monday, 29 May 2023.

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During this period, the water stoppage will affect several Ekurhuleni reservoirs, namely Duduza, Nigel, Springs, KwaThema and Brakpan.

Consequently, Rand Water has confirmed that all areas supplied by these reservoirs will experience a temporary water shortage.

“It is crucial for residents to be prepared and make the necessary arrangements to mitigate the impact of the outage,” the municipality said.

City spokesman Zweli Dlamini said that while the city will deploy roving water tankers to alleviate the impact, residents are strongly encouraged to store adequate supply of water for basic use throughout the duration of the stoppage.

“This proactive measure will ensure that essential needs are met without undue inconvenience,” Dlamini said.

Water conservation

Furthermore, the city emphasises the importance of water conservation during the recovery phase.

Industrial customers, including hospitals, clinics, retirement homes and schools, are specifically advised to fill up their internal storage tanks and practice water-saving measures until the system has fully recovered.

“By managing water resources responsibly, these institutions can contribute to a smoother recovery process for the entire community,” he said.

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To facilitate the water needs of industries, the city has arranged two metered filling points in Springs and Brakpan.

“These designated locations will enable companies to utilise their own tankers to replenish their water supply. This additional provision aims to support the continuity of essential services during the maintenance period,” he added.

It is essential for residents to note that the estimated system recovery after the stoppage is anticipated to take between three and five days.

The City of Ekurhuleni said it recognises the inconvenience caused by the temporary water interruption and appreciates the understanding and cooperation of residents during this maintenance phase.