Johannesburg Water has warned that targeted water restrictions, which began on 26 January until further notice, will affect certain areas in Johanesburg in a bid to help reduce water usage from reservoirs experiencing high consumption.
Tidimalo Chuene, Johannesburg Water spokesperson, said that some residents in affected areas will not notice the cuts if consumption is not too high. Residents in low lying areas will also most likely not be much affected.
Residents are also reminded that Level 2 water restrictions remain, despite recent rains and increases in water savings.
The restrictions, residents were reminded, call on consumers not to water or irrigate their gardens between 6am and 6pm. “Only handheld hosepipes, buckets or watering cans are allowed outside these hours. Residents have been urged not to fill their swimming pools with municipal water and not to use hosepipes to wash their cars or clean paved areas and driveways with hosepipes,” the City said.
Chuene said the entity will restrict water supply overnight to areas around Randburg, Midrand, southern Joburg and Soweto
“The intention is to reduce escalating water consumption since the announcement of water restrictions by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Johannesburg is still under Level 2 water restrictions, despite the recent rainfall. Water levels at the Integrated Vaal River system have not risen sufficiently to above satisfactory levels,” she said.
Technicians will be closing outlet valves of reservoirs between 8pm and 4am, resulting in no water supply at all during these times.
The reservoirs and affected areas, according to the utility, are:
• Honeydew reservoir affecting Honeydew, Sundowner, Randpark Ridge, Zandspruit, Bush Hill Estate, Honeydew Manor, Laser Park, North Riding, Kimbult AH and Haylon Hill AH.
• Waterval Tower reservoir affecting Bergbron, Northcliff and its extensions.
• Grand Central Reservoir affecting Halfway Gardens, Randjiespark, Halfway House, Grand Central, President Park, Allandale, Waterval, Vorna Valley, Jukskei View, Glen Austin and Erand.
• Diepkloof reservoir affecting Orlando East, Orlando Ekhaya, Noordgesig and Diepkloof
Chuene said that this is a method the entity uses to stabilise supply in areas around Lenasia, Northcliff, Fairland and Blackheath, which were struggling with supply in November last year.
“One other factor that contributed to our success in these areas is consumers who have since reduced their consumption significantly.”
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department is still monitoring wasteful water use and has thus far issued a total of 665 fines to consumers found contravening the water services bylaw.
“Consumers are urged to continue reporting non-compliance by phoning the Metro police 24/7 line on 011 758 9650. Johannesburg Water thanks all residents and visitors to the City who have heeded the call to save water; however, we need to do more to reduce supply shortages,” she said.
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