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Gauteng’s Water Woes: How Long It Could Take Before Your Tap Runs Again

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4 months ago

May 31, 2025

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If you live in Johannesburg and thought you could wait out a water outage for a day or two, think again. The city’s taps are in for a turbulent time starting June, with major planned maintenance by Rand Water threatening to leave many households dry well into August.

From Sandton to Soweto, water systems will be throttled or completely shut off as Rand Water begins a critical seven-week upgrade to bulk infrastructure. But here’s the catch: even after the work is wrapped up on 21 July, some areas may still wait another two weeks before their water pressure returns to normal.

Maintenance Now, Recovery Later

Johannesburg Water has been upfront: when Rand Water shuts off the valves, the recovery isn’t instant. After every maintenance window closes, it could take up to 14 days for the system to stabilise. That means if your area is last on the list, you could be facing water issues until early August.

The City has warned that the extensive repairs, while necessary, come with a heavy cost to residents’ daily lives.

Start Storing Now: Here’s Why

To soften the blow, Johannesburg Water is urging residents to start storing water early. The advice is clear: don’t wait until the last minute. Keep clean, tightly sealed containers in a cool place, and don’t forget water for cooking and pets. Though the city will set up some water tankers and alternative supply points, the best buffer is your own backup.

This proactive approach is the only way to avoid total reliance on emergency services, which are expected to be stretched thin during the outage.

Phase by Phase: What’s Being Affected

Palmiet System: First to Go

Starting 3 June, the Palmiet system will be the first under the knife. Areas affected include:

Sandton
South Hills
Midrand
Alexander Park
Linksfield

Expect reduced pressure during the 10-hour work window as pumping slows to 67 percent while technicians inspect and clean critical infrastructure.

Eikenhof System: The Heart of the Disruption

The most far-reaching maintenance starts 30 June, when the Eikenhof system servicing large swathes of Johannesburg — from Soweto to Randburg — undergoes a two-part operation. The first involves leak repairs, with zero pumping for six hours, then gradually ramping back up. The second targets sedimentation tanks at the Vereeniging Plant.

Together, these phases will push the network’s capacity to its limits through 21 July.

Zwartkopjes System: Complete Shutdown

Adding to the chaos, valve replacement work at Zwartkopjes Station will bring parts of the city to a standstill. From 30 June to 2 July, areas like:

Crown Gardens
Parktown
Berea
Naturena
Alan Manor

…will experience a full halt in pumping. That’s more than two full days of dry taps for these neighbourhoods.

The Bigger Picture: Recovery Is a Marathon

Once the final bolt is tightened and the last valve tested, residents may breathe a sigh of relief — but only briefly. That 14-day recovery clock will just be starting, with reservoirs needing time to refill and stabilize before homes see consistent flow again.

In short, water might not be fully restored across all regions until early August.

How to Prepare: Simple Steps That Matter

While it’s tempting to panic, a few simple actions can go a long way:

Store enough water for 3 to 5 days, starting in late May.
Use water wisely: short showers, no watering lawns or washing cars.
Keep emergency supplies: wet wipes, hand sanitizer, water for pets and babies.
Follow updates from Johannesburg Water for tanker points and schedules.

Stay Ready, Stay Informed

No one wants to deal with dry taps, but this is the reality for thousands of Gauteng residents in the weeks to come. The maintenance is essential, but so is preparation. The city is doing its part. Now it’s time for households to do theirs.

Stay alert. Store wisely. And remember, early planning is the difference between inconvenience and crisis.