Boil-water advisory for Pretoria CBD after sewage enters Findlay Reservoir

What the city says and immediate actions taken

The municipality said the sewer pipe failure led to elevated microbial levels that could not be fully controlled by existing chlorination. The city has begun flushing the affected network, is carrying out corrective work on the system and is monitoring water quality while the alternative supply is used.

“An unexpected sewer pipe burst allowed contaminated water to enter the water supply system, resulting in elevated microbial levels that exceeded the capacity of the existing chlorination measures,”

The affected source has been isolated and the reservoir emptied; the Salvokop Reservoir has been activated to maintain supply to the areas while technicians work to clear and restore the network.

Who is affected

The boil-water advisory covers Pretoria CBD and several surrounding suburbs. The city listed more than 20 areas under the warning. Affected areas named by the city include:

• Arcadia
• Asiatic Bazaar
• Asiatic Bazaar Extension 1
• Belle Ombre
• Cape Boys’ Location
• Daspoort
• Elandspoort
• Marabastad
• Phillip Nel Park
• Pretoria Central
• Pretoria Extension 1
• Pretoria Extension 9
• Pretoria Extension 11
• Pretoria Extension 14

Other affected areas include Pretoria Town and Townlands, Pretoria and Tshwane, Prinshof, Skougronde, Sunnyside and Trevenna.

Health advice for residents and businesses

The city has advised that all tap water used for drinking, cooking, food preparation and brushing teeth should be boiled before use. Specifically, water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then allowed to cool before it is used.

Residents have also been told to discard any stored tap water and ice made from tap water, and to avoid consuming unboiled tap water or using it to prepare food. The advisory will remain in place until further testing confirms the water is safe to drink.

“Although the affected source has been isolated and an alternative supply activated, residents must continue to observe the boil-water advisory until further testing confirms that the water is safe for consumption,”

City support and ongoing monitoring

The municipality said it will deploy water tankers to provide access to safe drinking water for affected communities. The locations and availability of tankers will be communicated to residents as they are organised.

The city is continuing to monitor water quality, flush the contaminated sections of the network and carry out corrective repairs. Officials have emphasised that updates will be issued as work progresses.

What a boil-water advisory means and practical tips

A boil-water advisory is a temporary public-health measure used when drinking water may contain harmful organisms. Boiling water kills most pathogens and is a reliable short-term method to reduce the risk of waterborne illness. The following general precautions can help residents while the advisory is in place:

• Bring tap water to a vigorous, rolling boil for at least one minute, then allow it to cool before use.
• Discard stored tap water and any ice made from tap water; replace with boiled or tanker-provided water.
• Use boiled water for preparing food, making hot drinks and brushing teeth.
• Follow official updates from the City of Tshwane; wait for confirmation from testing that the water is safe before resuming normal use.

These steps reflect standard public-health guidance during contamination incidents and are intended to reduce exposure while the supply is being made safe.

Context and community action

The city noted the incident is separate from the ongoing water crisis in Bronkhorstspruit. Residents have been asked to share the advisory with neighbours, tenants and others who may be affected to ensure everyone in the listed areas is aware of the precautions.

Where to look for updates

The City of Tshwane has said it will provide further updates as testing and corrective work continue, and will communicate tanker locations and availability to affected communities.

The advisory and the city’s response underline the importance of immediate measures to protect public health when water-quality non-compliance is detected. Officials continue to test and flush the network until laboratory results confirm the restored supply meets safety standards.