Overview
- A new temporary licence allows Rand Water to abstract an additional 200 million cubic metres per year from the IVRS through June 2026, lifting its allocation from 1,803 to 2,003 million cubic metres.
- Authorities are enforcing level‑two restrictions, controlled overnight throttling, accelerated leak repairs and pipe replacements, removal of illegal connections, load‑shifting between systems, and stronger public communication.
- Electro‑mechanical failures at Palmiet and Zuikerbosch plus a major Klipfontein pipe burst between 27 January and 1 February slashed output below roughly 5,000ML/day, draining municipal reservoirs as a heatwave drove up consumption.
- The department says a hydrological assessment supports the move and warns that making the higher abstraction permanent would risk severe shortages during future dry cycles.
- Rand Water distinguishes plant production capacity from pumping and licence limits as opposition figures challenge its delivery data, while non‑revenue water has climbed to about 42%, straining maintenance and recovery.