Rand Water Finishes Phase One Maintenance as Parts of Gauteng Still Face Low Pressure
Slow pipeline recharging and reservoir refills mean some communities and high-lying systems may wait days for full restoration and municipal tanking teams remain in place.
Overview
- Rand Water began bulk maintenance on Friday, May 29 and completed Phase 1 on June 2, triggering widespread pressure drops that emptied distribution mains and left many reservoirs below operating levels.
- Restoration is technical and slow because crews must recharge empty pipelines, bleed trapped air and rebuild reservoir and tower levels before outlets can feed homes and businesses.
- The Commando system and parts of Midrand, Soshanguve and Kagiso still report low pressure or no water and Johannesburg Water says some zones may need three to five more days to return to normal.
- Pressure swings during the maintenance caused pipe bursts in Lesedi and an emergency leak in Emfuleni that forced reduced supply from the Vereeniging purification station, while more than 300 provincial A-Team members and tankers were deployed to protect hospitals and supply affected communities.
- Authorities confirm a second maintenance phase at Rand Water on July 17, and they are urging residents to conserve water now as tanking resources are shifted to the areas that remain most vulnerable.