Johannesburg Water intensifies strategies to curb water losses
7 October 2024 – 14:30
Media Statement
Johannesburg Water intensifies strategies to curb water losses
Water Demand Management and conservation is a strong priority in the City of Johannesburg; and in support of the Department of Water and Sanitation’s drive to drastically improve Gauteng’s water security, Johannesburg Water has an ongoing Water Conservation and
Water Demand Management (WCWDM) Programme.
Senior Manager for Water Demand Management and Technical Metering, Logan Munsamy said: “Operating concurrently with the City’s annual water restrictions, the WCWDM Programme was implemented to ensure a continuous and sustainable water supply and to reduce strain on Johannesburg’s water supply networks.”
The Entity’s WCWDM Programme includes a range of strategies that aim to reduce losses
and decrease system input volume.
1. Commando System Project
There are three main projects within the Commando System that aim to improve water supply to this district and will be executed as a phased approach. The project is at around 55% completion.
(a) Phase 1: Construction of the New Brixton Reservoir, Tower, and Pumpstation, which are currently in progress. This is at around 60% completion.
(b) Phase 2: Upgrading of the existing Crosby Pumpstation, including a new rising main from the Crosby Pumpstation to the inlet of the Hursthill Reservoir to augment and boost supply, as well as the upgrading of the supply line from the Commando Meter to the Hursthill and Crosby Reservoirs. The contract is currently out on tender, which is closing at the end of October 2024. Construction is expected to commence in March 2025.
2. Repairs to leaking reservoirs
The Entity has identified and assessed 42 leaking reservoirs, with plans in place to repair 20 of them as high priority in order to curb water losses. The 20 reservoirs are at various stages, and this project will continue over the next few years.
3. On-property leaks
There is a project aimed at fixing on-property leaks at residential homes as well as the rollout of the STS smart meters project, which will better manage and measure consumption and improve billing. This is done together with the replacement of customer meters and will at the same time address the challenge of illegal connections. All these projects aim to reduce physical losses and reduce non-revenue water losses.
4. Smart flow controllers
The Entity will retrofit smart flow controllers on the outlets of 28 high-consumption reservoirs and towers. This will assist in reducing water losses on the system and will lead to improved and stable levels in these reservoir systems.
5. Pressure management
The Entity will reinstate and refurbish conventional pressure reducing valves (PRVs) that are currently not operational due to vandalism and technical faults. Further to this, smart pressure controllers will be installed on key network zonal PRVS in order to reduce bursts . All these interventions aim to reduce high pressures within the Entity’s system, thereby reducing minimum night flows and losses.
“The Entity will continue to mitigate water losses and improve the reliability of water supply. Similarly, we urge Johannesburg residents and businesses in the city to work with us in addressing the unsustainably high-water consumption, particularly during warmer months,”
Munsamy added.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
Eikenhof update: Johannesburg Water systems are stabilising
20 March 2024 – 14:45
Customer Notice
Eikenhof update: Johannesburg Water systems are stabilising
Johannesburg Water systems are steadily improving and stabilising following the City Power outage on Monday night that affected pumping at Rand Water’s Eikenhof Pump Station.
Overall, the Entity’s systems that were affected by the incident are back to supplying fairly normally.
There is slight improvement on the Commando System (comprising Brixton, Hursthill, and Crosby) compared to Tuesday, specifically at the Brixton reservoir and tower, which enjoyed increased capacity levels. The Crosby and Hursthill 1 and 2 systems, however, remain low. Poor pressure is expected, and Johannesburg Water continues to provide alternative water supply for affected areas.
Majority of the systems in Randburg are supplying normally. Only the Linden 1 reservoir and tower, as well as the Waterval and Quellerina towers are experiencing erratic supply pressure and subsequently intermittent supply into the areas.
Most of the reservoirs and towers in the Soweto system have maintained stability, and only the Meadowlands and Zondi reservoirs are slightly low, and technical teams are monitoring.
Johannesburg Water continues to monitor all the systems and will implement necessary interventions to ensure the system remains stable.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing
Directors:
Mr Sipho Mthembu (Chairperson), Mr Ntshavheni Mukwevho (Managing Director and Executive Director),
Mr Phetole Modika, Mr Siphamandla Mnyani, Mrs. Zandile Meeleso, Mr Pholoso Matjele, Mr Kgaile Mogoye,
Mr Molate Mashifane, Ms Pamela Mabece, Mr Lunga Bernard, Mr Julias Maputla
Ms Kethabile Mabe (Company Secretary),
Johannesburg Water SOC Ltd
Registration Number: 2000/029271/30
City Power on site conducting repairs at Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station
5 March 2024 – 09:50
Customer Notice
City Power on site conducting repairs at Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station
City Power is on site conducting repairs at the Eikenhof substation. The incident, which happened on 4 March around 20:00, has impacted pumping into Rand Water’s Eikenhof pump station. At this stage, there is no estimated time of completion; however, City Power will also release a statement on the progress of the repairs.
Affected systems supply predominately Soweto, Johannesburg South, Roodepoort/Randburg and Central
- Commando System (Crosby reservoir, Brixton reservoir and tower and Hursthill 1 & 2 reservoirs)
- Johannesburg Central (Aeroton reservoir and tower, Crown Gardens tower 1 & 2 and reservoir and Eagles Nest reservoir including Alan Manor and Naturena reservoirs)
- Soweto (Chiawelo reservoir, Diepkloof reservoir, Doornkop West reservoir, Jabulani reservoir, meadowlands reservoir, Orlando East reservoir, Power Park reservoir. Zondi reservoir and tower and Protea Glen reservoir)
- Waterval and Weltevreden (Blairgowrie reservoir, Boschkop reservoir, Constantia tower, Cosmo City reservoir, Florida North tower, Helderkruin reservoir and tower, Honeydew reservoir and tower, Horizon tower, Kensington-B reservoir and tower, Linden 1 reservoir and tower, Linden 2 reservoir, Quellerina tower, Randpark Ridge reservoir, Waterval tower, Olivedale reservoir, Robertsville reservoir, and Witpoortjie reservoir and tower)
Johannesburg Water will throttle (reducing supply) outlets of the reservoirs to delay the impact of no water. Further updates on the recovery of the impacted infrastructure will be provided.
Customers are urged to adopt water-saving measures to reduce the high consumption and aid in the recovery of the systems.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing
Directors:
Mr Sipho Mthembu (Chairperson), Mr Ntshavheni Mukwevho (Managing Director and Executive Director),
Mr Phetole Modika, Mr Siphamandla Mnyani, Mrs. Zandile Meeleso, Mr Pholoso Matjele, Mr Kgaile Mogoye,
Mr Molate Mashifane, Ms Pamela Mabece, Mr Lunga Bernard, Mr Julias Maputla
Ms Kethabile Mabe (Company Secretary),
Johannesburg Water SOC Ltd
Registration Number: 2000/029271/30
Aeroton reservoir maintenance to impact parts of Soweto and southern suburbs
26 January 2024 – 15:00
Customer Notice
Aeroton reservoir maintenance to impact parts of Soweto and southern suburbs
Johannesburg Water will be conducting a planned maintenance at the Aerotonreservoir from 10:00 on Friday, 2 February until 20:00 on Friday, 9 February.
The maintenance, which is for the purpose of conducting a structural assessment and cleaning at the reservoir, will affect parts of Soweto and southern suburbs, including Aeroton, Ormonde, Ormonde View, Orlando East and West, Diepkloof, Diepkloof extension, Diepkloof extensions 2 and 10, as well as the Baragwanath and Doctor SK Matseke Hospitals.
This is part of routine maintenance work, which is crucial to ensure continuity of water supply, improved services to customers, as well as to minimise water losses.
During this time, customers should expect low pressure to no water, particularly in high-lying areas. Alternative water supply will be provided through water tankers, especially in high-lying areas, as and when necessary.
Once the maintenance is completed on the Friday, all the reservoirs will be steadily filled over the weekend and water supply should be stable again by the start of the new week.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing
Directors:
Mr Sipho Mthembu (Chairperson), Mr Ntshavheni Mukwevho (Managing Director and Executive Director),
Mr Phetole Modika, Mr Siphamandla Mnyani, Mrs. Zandile Meeleso, Mr Pholoso Matjele, Mr Kgaile Mogoye,
Mr Molate Mashifane, Ms Pamela Mabece, Mr Lunga Bernard, Mr Julias Maputla
Ms Kethabile Mabe (Company Secretary),
Johannesburg Water SOC Ltd
Registration Number: 2000/029271/30