#EikenhofPowerOutage: Use water sparingly
RANDBURG – Residents are encouraged to use water sparingly after an explosion triggered a water interruption in Eikenhof on 27 August.
Parts of the city are beginning to feel the impact of water loss after an explosion at a City Power substation in Eikenhof affected the Rand Water Eikenhof pump station on 27 August.
According to Ward 117 councillor, Tim Truluck, Linden Water Tower 1 has run out of water. Truluck said, “Blairgowrie and Kensington B are probably next. Please use water sparingly.”
Linden Water Tower 1 is empty. Blairgowrie and Kensington B are prob next. Pls use water sparingly in Randburg. #EikenhofPowerOutage @JHBWater @Linden_LCA pic.twitter.com/UaQkdnBq1U
— Tim (@jozi117) August 28, 2018
According to a press statement released by Johannesburg Water, this is the current status of reservoir and water towers:
- Lenasia Cosmo is currently being throttled at 50%
- Hospital Hill reservoir: reservoir closed, pump switched off
- Lenasia CBD: Estimation that water supply will run out by this afternoon due to demand
- Soweto: System is stable
- Crown Gardens: Tower is empty
- Hurst Hill water tower and reservoir both closed
- Brixton water tower Empty
- Crosby water tower: Empty
Johannesburg Water communications manager, Isaac Dhludhlu said in a press statement on 27 August that due to the fire at the substation in Eikenhof and subsequent power outage, the Eikenhoff pump station is offline and a water supply disruption will affect various parts of Johannesburg.
“All the areas receiving direct supply from Rand Water will be impacted heavily by this incident. Johannesburg Water will place water tankers in strategic areas like clinics, schools, municipal offices, police stations and libraries. We have begun to throttle water at 50 per cent, once the levels reach 1 per cent, the reservoirs will be switched off to preserve the infrastructure. Teams are on their way to throttle the Hurst Hill Reservoir 1 and 2 and the Brixton Water Tower,” Dhludhlu said.
Randburg Sun’s metro reporter, Chantelle Fourie spoke to MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Nico de Jager.
“The Eikenhof substation provides power to the Rand Water pump station, which in turn provides 40 per cent of Johannesburg’s water, as well as Mogale City’s water and Rustenburg. The loss of power to the pump station has a massive impact, so restoring power to it is a priority,” said de Jager.
De Jager suggested that the restoration of power to the Eikenhof substation will be completed by 2pm on 28 August.
Once power has been restored, testing will need to take place to see if the installation of the new transformers has been done correctly. After this, power is expected to be restored to the substation and the Randwater pump station in the early hours of 29 August.
De Jager said, “I am astounded by the hard work of City Power and the officials working to restore power to the area. I am very proud to see how committed they are.
“Work at the Eikenhof substation is continuing and has been going very well. The worst case scenario is that three transformers will be up and running by the early hours of Wednesday morning. Our priority remains for the restoration of power to the Rand Water pump station.”
Residents can obtain more information by calling Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555 or visit www.johannesburgwater.co.za
