Rand Water defends winter maintenance project as ‘necessary inconvenience', despite taps running dry
Rand Water provided a system update on Monday, July 7, saying there had been slow improvements, but that there was still a way to go with the winter maintenance project that is affecting most of Johannesburg's water supply.
Residents can join the Rand Water WhatsApp channel or the Water Crisis Committee for regular updates and assistance with water tanker locations.
Question: Why is the maintenance plan being implemented, and what progress has been made?
Answer: The current maintenance is part of Rand Water's proactive maintenance aimed at preserving the quality, integrity, and lifespan of our water infrastructure. It forms part of our Asset Management Strategy, which focuses on managing technical maintenance, asset lifecycle and maximising asset value. The maintenance (29 May-18 July 2025) is planned to increase capacity, enhance reliability and prepare for increased summer demand. The schedule includes work across different municipalities. Maintenance projects completed:
B16 New Connection (29 May): Connects Station 5 (Zuikerbosch) to Mapleton Booster.
Pumpset 5 Amanzimtoti (29–30 May): Supplies Emfuleni and Midvaal
Russell Road meter installation (3 June): Installed large industrial-grade meters.
Zuikerbosch leak repair (30 June–2 July): Reduced pumping to Eikenhof by 50%.
Zwartkopjes Station Valve Replacement (30 June–2 July): Completed on time.
On 3 July, the cleaning of Hartebeeshoek Reservoir began — a compliance requirement under the Dam Safety Regulations — and is scheduled to conclude by 18 July. From July 15 to 18, a leak on the O2 pipeline will be repaired. Planned maintenance is normally conducted during times when the impact will be minimal, such as school holidays.
Q: What happened with vandalised pipes (on the weekend of 5-6 July) and how did it delay the maintenance and affect outages?
A: The C11 pipeline, under Zwartkopjes Booster Station, was vandalised between 30 June and 2 July. Valves were damaged, halting pumping. Repairs were delayed, resulting in recommissioning until early 5 July 2025, which prolonged the recovery, especially in Forest Hill. The valves were vandalised … which delayed the pumping … and contributed to a prolonged recovery.
Q: While Rand Water may say all its systems are pumping again, that doesn't mean there is water in the taps. People are suffering. Please explain the delay.
A: Water infrastructure is complex. Post-maintenance, reservoirs must be refilled and airlocks cleared. Then, municipalities — responsible for household reticulation — must distribute water, often prioritising low-lying areas due to gravity-based delays in high-lying zones.
Q: The same thing happened last December when large parts of Johannesburg were without water at the height of summer — now large parts of Johannesburg are without water at the height of winter. Is there a more effective way to conduct these maintenance operations that causes less harm to people?
A: Maintenance is a necessary inconvenience that ensures long-term benefits. Rand Water gives 21 days' notice to municipalities to allow contingency planning and communication. It is the municipality's responsibility to use this window to minimise resident impact.
Q: How are the outages managed between Rand Water, the bulk supplier; and Johannesburg Water, the municipal supplier? Are there daily meetings, who troubleshoots, and what is the security plan to ensure that acts of vandalism are minimised?
A: There are daily technical meetings between Rand Water and metros like Johannesburg. Vandalism, a serious challenge, is addressed through pipeline patrols and a security strategy.
We need the media, including Daily Maverick, to assist with public education and discourage these acts.
Q: When will the next big maintenance programme that affects Johannesburg's systems take place?
A: Dates are only announced after consultations with municipalities and a 21-day notice. Rand Water prefers low-demand periods, such as mid-December and the winter months. DM
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