Joburg Water Repairs Completed, but Taps May Stay Dry a While Longer

Joburg Water has reassured residents that emergency repairs on the Rand Water F12/F39 bulk pipeline have been successfully wrapped up. The repairs come after a major water outage on Tuesday that left large parts of Johannesburg dry.

Despite the progress, residents in affected areas are being told to brace for ongoing water supply issues as the system slowly recovers.

Pipeline Repairs Done – But Not the End of the Road

In a public statement released early Wednesday, Johannesburg Water addressed growing concerns and speculation around the status of the repairs. The utility confirmed that all emergency work on the pipeline had been completed.

“Claims that the repairs have failed or are incomplete are simply false,” the statement read.

However, the utility also cautioned that full system recovery is not immediate. While Rand Water is back to full pumping capacity, water supply may remain erratic for several more days.

Which Areas Are Still Affected?

The disruption has impacted key reservoir systems across the city, including:

• Soweto

• Randburg/Roodepoort

• Commando

• Deep South

Joburg Water has promised to issue a detailed breakdown of the status of each reservoir system later in the day.

Why the Delay?

Even though the pipe repairs are done, Johannesburg Water explained that it takes time for the system to recharge and normalize. Based on previous shutdowns, some areas may recover sooner than others.

Residents may still experience low water pressure—or no water at all—as recovery efforts continue.

Efforts to Minimize the Impact

To ease the disruption, the city has started rolling out alternative water supply measures. These include:

• Water tankers deployed to critical areas

• Stationary water tanks placed in high-need zones

• System configuration adjustments to boost reservoir levels overnight

Outlets were shut overnight and reopened where possible on Wednesday morning, depending on improved water levels.

Planned Maintenance Also Underway

In a separate update, Johannesburg Water announced that scheduled maintenance would take place in Olievenpoort Extension 40 on Thursday, 22 May, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The work will affect Northgate Street and Valley Road, involving the integration of a new 150mm pipeline.

This maintenance aims to enhance long-term water delivery and prevent future disruptions.

More Updates Coming

Johannesburg Water has committed to keeping residents informed as recovery efforts continue. The utility emphasized that it is working closely with Rand Water to stabilize the situation and restore full service as quickly as possible.

{Source: The Citizen}

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