by l3rato | Mar 17, 2024 | Customer Notice
17 March 2024 – 10:15
Customer Notice
Water supply systems under severe strain
The persistent heatwave experienced in the past few weeks as well as the lack of rain has resulted in high demand, which has led to the bulk supplier’s reservoir levels declining at an undesirable rate, impacting Johannesburg Water and other metros. Currently, demand is outstripping supply.
Although Rand Water is pumping and supplying, the increased demand on the entire system has resulted in reservoirs being unable to maintain capacity.
Over the past few months, Rand Water has been holding daily Joint Operations Committee (JOC) meetings with Johannesburg Water, the City of Tshwane, as well as the City of Ekurhuleni in efforts to find strategies and solutions to addressing this high demand issue.
Furthermore, Johannesburg Water technical teams have been working behind-the-scenes implementing daily internal interventions to mitigate the situation and improve water supply to its customers. As such, the Entity urges the City of Johannesburg’s (CoJ) residents and businesses to work with us in reducing water wastage by at least 10%.
This includes adhering to the City’s level-1 water restrictions, which require residents to use water sparingly especially with South Africa being a water-scarce country. Under level-1 water restrictions, the watering of gardens is prohibited between 6am and 6pm. Furthermore, residents are not permitted to wash paved areas and driveways using hose pipes.
It is more imperative now more than ever that we embrace a new mindset on water conservation. By adopting tiny adjustments each day, we can all have an impact.
Here are simple water-saving habits to implement into your daily routine:
• Do not leave taps dripping, and repair leaking taps in your household
• Wash your car on the grass as this will water your lawn at the same time
• Shorten your showering time
• Use a glass of water to rinse when brushing your teeth
• Take shallow baths and avoid filling your bath to a depth greater than 100mm
• Reuse grey water to water your garden or pot plants
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Mar 16, 2024 | systems updates
16 March 2024 – 12:30
Systems Update
Rand Water’s Palmiet and Eikenhof/Waterval systems are currently under severe strain due to high demand and hot weather conditions. As a result, this is affecting some of Johannesburg Water’s systems.
Johannesburg Water’s technical teams will implement various internal strategies to mitigate the situation and boost supply into struggling reservoirs and towers.
Waterval System
The bulk supplier’s Waterval System is under severe strain and is critically low and as a result, is affecting supply to Johannesburg Water’s Randburg and Roodepoort systems. Although there is some recovery on the Randburg system, several of Johannesburg Water’s towers are still empty due to insufficient flow from the bulk supplier. This will result in poor pressure to no water for customers within the supply zones. Alternative water supply is provided for the affected areas.
The following towers are affected:
1. Linden 1 tower: There have been slight improvements from last night, when it was empty.
2. Waterval tower: Empty.
3. Quellerina tower: Empty.
View all affected areas: /johannesburg-water-towers/
Commando System
Following the slight gains that were achieved yesterday, the Commando system has now taken strain overnight due to high demand and poor pressure. The following systems will be affected by poor pressure to no water:
• Hursthill 1 and 2 reservoirs
• Crosby reservoir
Central System
The Central Systems are also affected by the current strain on the bulk supplier’s system.
• Alexander Park reservoir: Although the reservoir was empty yesterday, it has since made slight improvements. However, it is still low. Poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zone.
• Berea reservoir: Improved overnight but remains low. Poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zone.
Johannesburg Water is monitoring the following systems which are although supplying normally, but on a downwards trend:
Crown Gardens reservoir, Eagles Nest reservoir, South Hills tower, and the Yeoville reservoir.
Soweto System
The overall system has remained stable. However, the Meadowlands reservoir is currently supplying at 50%, which is affecting Dube, Meadowlands, Mofolo North and Central, Orlando West, and surrounding areas. The Aeroton reservoir is also restricted which is affecting water supply in Diepkloof extension and surrounding areas. Poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zones of both reservoirs.
Sandton System
There were some improvements overnight and most systems are supplying normally. However, the systems are constrained due to high demand and hot weather conditions.
Critically low reservoirs will be throttled overnight to build capacity. Johannesburg Water is arranging alternative water supply for the affected areas. The Entity is monitoring the situation.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Mar 15, 2024 | systems updates
15 March 2024
Systems Update
Majority of Johannesburg Water’s systems have improved over the past week, and most systems have recovered. There are a few systems which are experiencing poor pressure due to airlocks, specifically Blairgowrie. Technical teams are currently on the ground flushing out the network to improve supply pressure and to protect the infrastructure against multiple pipe bursts that can result from airlocks.
Randburg
The overall capacity of the Randburg system has improved significantly over the past three days and is currently supplying normally. Technical teams continue to reconfigure the system for the current challenge, and for potential similar incidents in the future. Alternative water supply continues to be provided to impacted customers.
- Blairgowrie reservoir: The Blairgowrie reservoir has improved significantly over the past three days and the reservoir is supplying fairly. Parts of Blairgowrie in Randburg are still struggling due to two factors air locks in the network that the Entity’s technical teams are busy on the ground flushing out.
- Kensington B reservoir and tower: Both the reservoir and tower have improved over the past three days and are stable and supplying normally.
- Linden 1 reservoir and tower: Over the past three days, the Linden 1 system continues to be stable and is supplying normally.
- Linden 2 reservoir: The reservoir levels have improved over the past three days and is supplying normally.
Sandton System
Over the past 24 hours, the system has improved and is supplying fairly. Johannesburg Water continues to monitor the improvement and put in place interventions to assist recovery.
- Illovo reservoir and tower: The reservoir remains low but is supplying fairly. Pumping has resumed and the tower is supplying normally. Poor pressure may be expected in certain parts of the supply zone while the system recovers.
- Bryanston reservoir and tower: Both the reservoir and tower have improved and are supplying fairly.
- Linbro Park, Marlboro, and Morningside reservoirs: Overall, the reservoirs are constrained and still recovering. However, the supply is fair and Johannesburg Water is monitoring the systems.
Commando System
There is slight improvement in the overall supply; however, the reservoirs remain low, in particular the Crosby and Hursthill 1 and 2 reservoirs. As part of interventions Hursthill 1 is reconfigured to boost supply, while the Hursthill 2 outlet will be closed overnight. Roaming water tankers are being supplied for high-lying areas.
Berea Reservoir
The reservoir levels made slight improvements but remain low due to high demand and poor supply. Poor pressure is expected in certain parts of the supply zone.
Yeoville Reservoir and Pump Station
The reservoir levels remain stable while the pump station continues to supply normally.
Soweto System
The overall system has remained stable, while Doornkop and Meadowlands reservoirs have improved overnight and are supplying fairly.
Deep South Region
- Orange Farm, Ennerdale, and Lawley reservoirs – all reservoirs improved overnight but remain low due to high demand. Poor pressure can be expected in the supply zone and no water during peak times when the reservoirs are quickly depleted.
- Lenasia Hospital Hill and Lenasia High Level reservoirs – Both reservoirs have improved and are supplying fairly. However, due to high demand, poor pressure to no water can be expected during peak times.
The Entity continues to monitor all affected systems. Outlets of the critically low reservoirs will be throttled overnight to build capacity for the next day. Affected areas will be provided with alternative water supply.
List of affected reservoirs: /johannesburg-water- reservoirs-3/
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Mar 14, 2024 | systems updates
14 March 2024 – 12:00
Systems Update
Randburg
Teams have been mobilised to flush the network of airlocks in areas that have reported poor pressure. Alternative water supply will be arranged for the impacted areas. Reconfiguration efforts from both Johannesburg Water and Rand Water teams continue.
• Blairgowrie reservoir: The system is currently severely constrained. Johannesburg Water teams have opened the inlet and the network should gain some capacity during the course of the day.
• Kensington B reservoir and tower: The reservoir has improved since yesterday and is relatively stable, while the tower is empty. However, the tower has been augmented from the Sandton System to provide relief to customers. However, residents will experience poor pressure to no water while the system recovers.
• Linden 1 reservoir and tower: The Linden 1 reservoir and tower have enjoyed some improvements compared to Wednesday. The system is stable and supplying normally.
• Linden 2 reservoir: The reservoir levels remain low and technical teams continue with efforts to balance the system between inflow and outflow of the water.
Some residents, however, have slowly started receiving water, although with poor pressure. They include:
• Parts of Blairgowrie
• Parts of Darrenwood
• Robindale (dropped pressure)
• Parts of Ferndale
Sandton System
Following the Rand Water closure of the Sandton System on Wednesday night, the Illovo, Bryanston, and Marlboro reservoirs are currently under pressure and have not yet sufficiently recovered, while the Illovo and Bryanston towers are currently empty.
Customers in the tower supply zones will have poor pressure to no water. Pumping will resume as soon as reservoir levels improve. Water tankers will be provided until the system has sufficiently recovered.
Commando System
Although the average supply remains low, there was slight improvement in the incoming supply. However, the overall system remains critically low due to poor supply pressure. Roaming water tankers are being supplied for high-lying areas.
• Hursthill 1 and 2 as well as Crosby reservoirs remain critically low and
poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zones.
• Brixton reservoir and tower: The reservoir and tower are relatively stable and supplying normally.
Berea Reservoir
The reservoir levels remain low due to high demand and poor supply. Poor pressure is expected in certain parts of the supply zone.
Yeoville Reservoir and Pump Station
Pumping was reduced overnight; however, normal pumping has resumed, and the system is steadily recovering. Both reservoirs and pump station supply zones will experience poor pressure to no water while the system recovers.
Soweto System
The overall system has relatively stabilised in the past week, while the Doornkop West reservoir has enjoyed some gains since Monday. Although the Meadowlands reservoir is slightly low this morning, some improvement is expected between today and tomorrow as the system will be throttled overnight.
Customers who have water are requested to use it sparingly to assist Johannesburg Water in recovery efforts. The Entity continues to monitor all affected systems. Outlets of the critically low reservoirs will be throttled overnight to build capacity for the next day.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Mar 14, 2024 | systems updates
14 March 2024
Systems Update
Randburg
Teams have been mobilised to flush the network of airlocks in areas that have reported poor pressure. Alternative water supply will be arranged for the impacted areas. Reconfiguration efforts from both Johannesburg Water and Rand Water teams continue.
- Blairgowrie reservoir: The system is currently severely constrained. Johannesburg Water teams have opened the inlet and the network should gain some capacity during the course of the day.
- Kensington B reservoir and tower: The reservoir has improved since yesterday and is relatively stable, while the tower is empty. However, the tower has been augmented from the Sandton System to provide relief to customers. However, residents will experience poor pressure to no water while the system recovers.
- Linden 1 reservoir and tower: The Linden 1 reservoir and tower have enjoyed some improvements compared to Wednesday. The system is stable and supplying normally.
- Linden 2 reservoir: The reservoir levels remain low and technical teams continue with efforts to balance the system between inflow and outflow of the water.
Some residents, however, have slowly started receiving water, although with poor pressure. They include:
- Parts of Blairgowrie
- Parts of Darrenwood
- Robindale (dropped pressure)
- Parts of Ferndale
Sandton System
Following the Rand Water closure of the Sandton System on Wednesday night, the Illovo, Bryanston, and Marlboro reservoirs are currently under pressure and have not yet sufficiently recovered, while the Illovo and Bryanston towers are currently empty.
Customers in the tower supply zones will have poor pressure to no water. Pumping will resume as soon as reservoir levels improve. Water tankers will be provided until the system has sufficiently recovered.
Commando System
Although the average supply remains low, there was slight improvement in the incoming supply. However, the overall system remains critically low due to poor supply pressure. Roaming water tankers are being supplied for high-lying areas.
- Hursthill 1 and 2 as well as Crosby reservoirs remain critically low and poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zones.
- Brixton reservoir and tower: The reservoir and tower are relatively stable and supplying normally.
Berea Reservoir
The reservoir levels remain low due to high demand and poor supply. Poor pressure is expected in certain parts of the supply zone.
Yeoville Reservoir and Pump Station
Pumping was reduced overnight; however, normal pumping has resumed, and the system is steadily recovering. Both reservoirs and pump station supply zones will experience poor pressure to no water while the system recovers.
Soweto System
The overall system has relatively stabilised in the past week, while the Doornkop West reservoir has enjoyed some gains since Monday. Although the Meadowlands reservoir is slightly low this morning, some improvement is expected between today and tomorrow as the system will be throttled overnight.
Customers who have water are requested to use it sparingly to assist Johannesburg Water in recovery efforts. The Entity continues to monitor all affected systems. Outlets of the critically low reservoirs will be throttled overnight to build capacity for the next day.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
