'Demand for water in Gauteng much higher than available supply', says Department of Water DG

It’s a bleak start of the festive season for some Joburg residents who have had to endure days without running water, after Rand Water shut down the Zwartkoppies and Eikenhof pump stations for a scheduled 86-hour essential maintenance work.

On Sunday and Monday, work was respectively completed at the pump stations but by Tuesday morning, some residents were still complaining about not having water or low flows of the water.

The Zwartkoppies pump station supplies Johannesburg Water systems including Parktown, Berea, Forest Hill, Naturena as well as the Hector Norris pump station which supplies the Johannesburg CBD. 

On the other hand, the Eikenhof pump station supplies systems including Soweto, Randburg and Roodepoort, Commando (Brixton, Crosby, and Hursthill), Lenasia and parts of Johannesburg central, including Eagles Nest, Crown Gardens, Aeroton and Alan Manor reservoirs.

Director General of the Department of Water and Sanitation, Dr Sean Phillips told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that the municipal infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the demand in Gauteng.

“The reason it takes a while for the systems of the municipality to recover after Rand Water has completed its maintenance is because the demand for water in Gauteng is very high compared to the available supply of water,” he said.

“We are building a new huge dam in Lesotho to bring more water into the integrated Vaal River system but that is going to take a couple of years still until more water can be drawn out of the integrated Vaal River system.”

On Monday night, after 9pm, Rand Water announced that it had “successfully” completed the maintenance work at Eikenhof pump station.

“Please note that it will take some time for the system to fully recover. We will continuously update you on the recovery process. Your understanding and patience are highly appreciated,” Rand Water said.

Rand Water previously stated that regarding the Eikenhof pump station, the the extensive maintenance work was meant to correct its historical design of the engine rooms.

IOL