Dry Days Ahead: Gauteng Braces for 16-Day Water Disruption as Rand Water Shuts Key Reservoirs

From Tshwane to Joburg and even parts of North West, thousands of residents are preparing for more dry taps this July. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s Happening and When?

Rand Water is moving into phase two of its critical 16-day maintenance on the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, with work scheduled to begin Monday, 1 July, and end on Thursday, 18 July 2025.

According to officials, this work is part of regulatory inspection and cleaning in compliance with national dam safety regulations. But for many residents, it means one thing: more water outages.

Who’s Affected? A Long List of Reservoirs

If you live in Tshwane, brace yourself. The City has confirmed that multiple reservoirs will be impacted, including:

• Akasia (East, West, and Main)

• Ga-Rankuwa (East, West, Industrial)

• Kruisfontein

• Klipfontein

• Mabopane (Main, Central, Reservoir)

• Magaliesberg/Rosslyn

• Rama City

• Soshanguve (L, DD)

• Winterveldt

But it doesn’t stop there. Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Rand West, Mogale City, Merafong, Lesedi, Madibeng, Rustenburg, Royal Bafokeng, and even surrounding mining towns and industries will feel the ripple effects,  either from low water pressure or complete outages, especially in high-lying areas.

How the Maintenance Will Work

Rand Water’s technicians will first test and isolate valves, then drain the Hartebeeshoek reservoir into the municipal system over three days. During this time, water supply to some areas may briefly improve, but don’t get too comfortable, this is just the beginning.

A bypass valve will then be installed to allow partial supply during cleaning and disinfection. Low-lying areas may receive water at reduced pressure, but high-lying zones are expected to run dry.

Here’s the rough schedule:

• Valve isolation and draining: 3 days

• Bypass installation and inspection: ongoing during maintenance

• Cleaning process: 6 days

• Disinfection period: 3 days

• Reconnection and pressure normalization: final 4–5 days

Why Now?

According to Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo, the timing is deliberate.

“The work has been scheduled during low water consumption months (May to July) to minimise disruption.”

In Johannesburg, the Eikenhof system’s pumping will be reduced by 600 million litres per day for 48 hours, while the Zwartkopjes system will be completely offline for 50 hours.

What Are Municipalities Doing About It?

In Tshwane, City spokesperson Selby Bokaba confirmed that roaming water tankers would be dispatched “as and when needed.”

However, past outages have shown that tanker availability often falls short, leaving residents, especially in informal settlements and townships, scrambling for alternatives.

Meanwhile, Rand Water says it will provide regular updates through social media and official communication channels.

Still, residents are being urged to store water in advance and use it sparingly.

Community Concern and Social Media Reaction

As news of the planned outage broke, #NoWater trended again on X (formerly Twitter), with residents expressing frustration.

“Another outage? We’re tired,” tweeted one Johannesburg resident.
“How are we supposed to cook, clean, or send kids to school with no water for two weeks?” asked another.

Many users called for more investment in water infrastructure, pointing out that power cuts and water outages are increasingly becoming a normal part of life.

The Bigger Picture: Infrastructure on the Edge

This latest maintenance project underscores a deeper crisis in South Africa’s aging water infrastructure. While Rand Water’s efforts are necessary for safety and sustainability, the lack of long-term investment, poor municipal management, and rising urban demand all contribute to recurring supply challenges.

How to Prepare

Here are a few quick tips to help you manage during the outage:

• Fill containers and bathtubs ahead of 1 July.

• Keep extra bottled water for drinking and cooking.

• Use greywater (from handwashing or rinsing) to flush toilets.

• Follow your municipality’s social pages for tanker schedules and updates.

Water is a basic human right, but for many in Gauteng, it’s becoming a luxury on a schedule. While Rand Water’s maintenance work is critical and commendable, the mounting frequency of outages highlights a system under pressure.

For now, all residents can do is prepare, conserve, and hope that 18 July brings not just water, but some long-overdue relief.

Brace for Dry Taps: 14-Hour Water Outages Hit Johannesburg as Upgrades Roll Out

{Source: The Citizen}

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