Picture: iStock
Johannesburg is facing a severe water crisis, with 28 out of 61 reservoirs and towers now at critically low levels or completely without water.
This was revealed in a system status report released by Johannesburg Water on Wednesday.
Approximately 350 areas are affected.
The utility reported that its systems are currently experiencing significant challenges due to demand exceeding available capacity.
It said this was further compounded by an Emfuleni power failure that has disrupted pumping from Rand Water’s Forest Hill and Eikenhof systems.
“As a result, systems are under strain, leading to lower reservoir and tower levels. This may cause reduced water pressure or, in some areas, a complete loss of supply,” Joburg Water stated in their latest update.
ALSO READ: 7 water reservoirs critically low in Joburg: Warning of little to no water in these 370 areas
Analysis of the system status report shows that out of all monitored reservoirs and towers across the city’s various systems, 28 are marked as critically low (red), 24 are at fair levels (yellow), and 9 are stable (green).
Several reservoirs, including the Zondi Reservoir, Jabulani Tower, and Hursthill 1 Reservoir, are currently on bypass.
The following reservoirs and towers are currently at critically low levels:
Please use The Citizen’s tool to search for your area.
Deep South Systems:
Central and Soweto Systems:
Commando System:
Randburg System:
According to the utility Johannesburg remains under Level 1 water restrictions, with Johannesburg Water implementing additional water supply reductions since November 8, 2024.
“We urge residents to reduce water consumption wherever possible to help stabilise the system.”
ALSO READ: Nine-hour water outage ahead this week in Joburg: These are the areas affected
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for urgent intervention in response to the crisis.
Referencing Joburg Water’s system status report, Nico de Jager MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Infrastructure Development shared his concern for residents who have gone days, and some weeks without water.
“The constant blame-shifting between Rand Water, Eskom, and City Power must end. What residents need is decisive action and proper contingency planning,” said De Jager.
De Jager outlined the DA’s proposed solutions to the water crisis.
“Under a DA government, we would implement three essential initiatives: first, we would establish independent power suppliers at all major pump stations using solar and battery systems.
“Second, upgrade the ageing infrastructure by incorporating smart pressure management systems.
“Lastly, create a rapid response maintenance unit specifically trained to handle water infrastructure emergencies.”
ALSO READ: Vaal Dam has stayed around the same level for nearly a month, but could reach new mark this week
De Jager said the DA has written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, requesting the inclusion of Gauteng municipalities in his infrastructure support programme.
He said the party is calling on the Gauteng Provincial Government to declare an emergency and implement immediate measures to address the crisis.
“The DA notes with particular concern that Joburg Water has been implementing water supply reductions since November 2024, yet the situation continues to deteriorate.”
“The situation demands more than crisis management, it requires a complete overhaul of how our water infrastructure is managed and maintained,” added De Jager.
Johannesburg Water has committed to monitoring the situation and providing further updates as they become available.
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