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Johannesburg Water systems are currently impacted by varying network challenges, primarily due to high demand exceeding available capacity. Further to the network challenges, Johannesburg Water systems performance was also impacted by power failure at the Eikenhof Pump Station, followed by the total power failure at Emfuleni’s substation, which impacted pumping from Rand Water’s Forest Hill and Eikenhof systems. 

The power supply issues have been restored, and this allowed Rand Water to start pumping. This incident however contributed to the depletion of some of Johannesburg Water’s reservoirs and affected the following systems: Eikenhof system - (Johannesburg Central, Randburg/Roodepoort and Soweto systems) Forest Hill system: (Forest Hill, Hector Norris, Crown Gardens, Yeoville, Berea, Eagles nest, Glenvista and Kibler Park). 

Johannesburg Water is observing gradual improvement and in some cases recovery of certain parts of the systems, however, the systems are still under strain, leading to lower reservoir and tower levels. This may cause reduced water pressure or, in some areas, a complete loss of supply. Alexander Park: Alexander Park reservoir was impacted by Rand Water’s Klipriviersberg reservoir which was under strain due to high demand that was exceeding available capacity. Customers were affected by low pressure to no water. Affected areas included: Berea, Parktown 2, Bruma, Cyrildene, Malvern East, Kensington and surrounding areas in the east of the city. 

Johannesburg Water worked on implementing configuration changes and strategies to improve supply. While there challenges alternative water supply was supplied through water tankers to the impacted areas. Johannesburg CBD Early this week the Hector Norris pump station, which supplies the Johannesburg CBD, was impacted by a power failure. 

This meant there was no pumping at the Hector Norris. This directly affected water supply in that area. Further to that Rand Water's Eikenhof pump station was operating at reduced capacity, which was due to a City Power transformer that tripped at the Orlando substation. This also directly affected supply to the following Johannesburg Water systems: 

Yeoville reservoirs, Forest Hill reservoir, South Hills tower, Crown Gardens and the Hector Norris pump station, which supplied the CBD. Johannesburg Water technical teams monitored the impacted systems and implemented technical interventions required to restore water to affected customers. In addition, to ensure water security and safeguard the integrity of the water supply system, Johannesburg Water is required to intensify current technical interventions. The daily water restrictions/throttling is now implemented from 18:00 until 05:00 the following morning. This was effective from 4 February 2025. 

We strongly urge residents to reduce water consumption wherever possible to help stabilise the system. Johannesburg Water has an ongoing Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Programme that addresses the dire need for a continuous and sustainable water supply and to reduce strain on Johannesburg’s water supply networks. This will include the responsibility of the Entity to conduct first level response to isolate any physical losses emanating from leaks and bursts. This will not guarantee an immediate repair of the leak or burst. 

The Entity will also ensure priority of repairs and maintenance so far as leaks and bursts are concerned The City of Johannesburg remains under Level 1 water restrictions. In addition, Johannesburg Water has been implementing a water supply reduction since 8 November 2024, a measure that has been communicated to residents.

Issued by City of Johannesburg