Rand Water is preparing for planned maintenance work to repair a leak that was detected on the O2 pipeline beneath Nasmith road in Germiston, in the Ekurhuleni municipality.

The O2 pipeline will be temporarily isolated, with the 24-hour project starting at 06h00 on January 25 until 06h00 on January 26, impacting water supply to the cities of Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg, as well as the Madibeng local municipality.

Normal water pumping capacity from the Palmiet booster pumping station into the O2 pipeline will be reduced by 400-megalitres a day during the maintenance period.

This water supply reduction has the potential to have a negative impact on several Rand Water reservoirs, leading to lower water pressure or, in some cases, no water supply for the duration of the work.

The reservoirs that will be affected during the maintenance include the Germiston reservoir, the Northridge reservoir and the Airfield reservoir, which will impact some parts of the City of Ekurhuleni, as well as the Klipfontein reservoir, affecting some parts of the cities of Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni; the Brakfontein reservoir, affecting some parts of the City of Tshwane and Madibeng; and the Haartebeeshoek reservoir, impacting some parts of the City of Tshwane.

Rand Water had formally issued a 21-day advance notification for the affected municipal customers ahead of the pending project to enable the entities to communicate with the affected residents, and to plan and execute appropriate contingency plans.

The affected municipal customers will advise consumers on the extent of the water supply shortages in their respective areas.