Joburg Water Lifts Bezuidenhout Valley Alert After Tap Water Tests

The alert had been issued after a damaged water pipeline was repaired at the corner of 6th Street and 8th Avenue. Residents in the affected properties were advised not to drink or use tap water while samples were collected and tested.

Water samples found to be compliant

Johannesburg Water said samples collected from the affected properties on October 23 and October 25 met the required water quality standards for both microbiological and chemical parameters.

The follow-up samples collected on October 25 were taken as an additional precaution to verify the quality of the water. Both sets of results were compliant, allowing the water entity to lift the precautionary alert.

“The follow-up samples collected on October 25 were taken as an additional precaution to verify water quality,” Johannesburg Water said.

The results mean residents in the affected properties may resume normal water use, including drinking, cooking and other household activities.

Which properties were affected?

The affected properties are along 8th Avenue, at the intersections with 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th streets.

The pipeline damage occurred when a tree stump fell on the pipe during excavation work by a contractor replacing a sewer pipe. Repairs to the damaged section were completed on Wednesday.

Johannesburg Water said its technical team would arrange to restore the water supply as soon as practically possible. The alert being lifted confirms the laboratory results, while the restoration work relates to returning the affected supply to normal operation.

Residents urged to flush internal pipes

Although the water quality tests were compliant, Johannesburg Water has urged residents to flush their internal plumbing systems before returning to normal use.

Residents should run their taps briefly to clear any water that may have remained in the pipes while the restriction was in place. This precaution is intended to move stagnant water through household plumbing after the temporary interruption and testing period.

Once the taps have been flushed, residents in the affected properties may use the water for household purposes, including drinking and preparing food.

Johannesburg Water apologised for the inconvenience caused by the precautionary restriction and thanked residents for their patience and co-operation during the sampling and testing process.

Alert lifted amid separate water-related health crisis

The Bezuidenhout Valley update comes as authorities continue responding to a separate water-related health crisis in Bronkhorstspruit and surrounding communities.

Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina confirmed that the number of reported gastrointestinal illness cases linked to contaminated water in Bronkhorstspruit had risen to 833. Three residents remained in hospital.

Hundreds of people fell ill in Bronkhorstspruit and nearby communities between October 7 and 18. The outbreak was linked to inadequately chlorinated water supplied by the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment works.

The treatment works has since been closed, with affected communities relying on water tankers. The City of Tshwane also suspended the manager of the treatment plant, while an independent investigation into the incident is under way.

In a separate development, the City lifted a boil-water advisory for Pretoria’s central business district after laboratory tests confirmed that the water there was safe to drink.

What the Bezuidenhout Valley result means

For residents covered by the Johannesburg Water alert, the latest laboratory findings bring the precautionary restriction to an end. The testing covered both microbiological and chemical parameters, and the results from the initial and follow-up samples were compliant.

The immediate steps for affected households are to allow the technical team to restore the supply and briefly run internal taps before resuming ordinary water use. Residents may then return to drinking, cooking and using the water for other household activities.