Latest news with #DamSafetyRegulations
Daily Maverick
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Rand Water defends winter maintenance project as ‘necessary inconvenience', despite taps running dry
Rand Water says gravity and vandalism are behind some delays in restoring supply as winter water cuts hit Joburg residents hard. Daily Maverick asked Rand Water how much longer water interruptions will continue. 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
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Call for provision of water tankers as Hartebeeshoek shutdown looms
Call for provision of water tankers as Hartebeeshoek shutdown looms Residents across the north of Tshwane are bracing for a major water shutdown as Rand Water is set to begin 16 days of maintenance on the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, starting July 3. The essential maintenance work, which will affect Tshwane's reservoirs and meters supplied by the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 3, at 07:00 and is expected to be completed on Friday, July 18, at 19:00. With supply disruptions expected to affect large parts of the north, communities are taking matters into their own hands, storing water, co-ordinating with neighbours, and calling for urgent intervention from the Tshwane metro in the form of water tankers. The prolonged shutdown, scheduled to last until July 18, forms part of a Rand Water and Tshwane infrastructure upgrade. While the metro has promised contingency plans, residents said past experiences have left them doubtful. In areas such as Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve, previous water shutdowns were marred by delays in water tanker deliveries or no tankers arriving at all. 'Last time, our taps ran dry and no tanker showed up for days. We had to walk long distances just to get water for drinking and cooking. We can't go through that again. 'We need water tankers deployed every day in all affected areas,' said Selina Mashaba, a resident of Soshanguve. Mashaba said it is not the first time they've had to live like this. 'It's time the municipality treats water like the essential service it is, not something we must beg for every time maintenance is done.' Households in areas like Akasia, Mabopane, and Winterveldt have begun storing water in plastic drums, buckets, and bottles in anticipation of the outage. Mabatho Nkadimeng said the water interruption comes at a bad time, because children are not going to school. She added there's nothing she can do about the situation. 'We have two drums that we are filling slowly. But with three kids at home, that won't last long. If tankers don't come, we'll be in trouble. 'Rand Water and the City of Tshwane are playing with our lives. We cannot survive 16 days without water. This is not just an inconvenience, it's a crisis.' Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba assured residents that roaming water tankers would be dispatched as and when the need arises. According to the metro, the city has been notified by Rand Water of its 16-day planned regulatory inspection and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir in compliance with the Dam Safety Regulations. The following reservoirs and meters will be affected: – Akasia, Akasia East and Akasia West Reservoirs: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-JR, Chantelle (all extensions), Florauna, Hartbeeshoek 303-JR, Hartbeeshoek 312-JR, Hartebeeshoek 251-JR, Heatherdale AH, Heatherview (all extensions), Ninapark (all extensions), Plantland 567-JR, Witfontein 301-JR and Zandfontein 317-JR, Doreg Hermon 289-JR, Karenpark (all extensions ), Klerksoord AH, Plantland 644-JR, Rosslyn, Strydfontein 306-JR, The Orchards (all extensions), Farm areas (Akasia), Hartbeeshoek 614-JR, Clarina (all extensions), De Onderstepoort 300-JR, Dorandia, Eldorette (all extensions), Hesteapark (all extensions), Theresapark (all extensions), Winternest AH, Witfontein JRS Ga-Rankuwa East, Ga-Rankuwa West and Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Reservoirs: Ga-Rankuwa (all units), Medunsa 237-JR, Sjambok Zijn Oude Kraal 258-JR, Kafferskraal 308-JR, Ga-Rankuwa view, Kameelfontein 257-JR, Syferfontein 430-JQ, Krelingspost 425-JQ, Uitvalgrond 434-JQ, De Wildt AH, Ga-Rankuwa Z1, Rama 768-JR, Ga-Rankuwa Industrial. – Kruisfontein Reservoir: Soshanguve South (all extensions), Soshanguve A, B, TT, VV and XX, Wentzelrust 223-JR, Soshanguve East, Kruisfontein 262-JR, Kruisfontein 259-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR. – Klipfontein Reservoir: Klipfontein 268-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR, Soshanguve South Ext 12, Soshanguve South Ext 13. – Mabopane Main, Mabopane Res and Mabopane Central Reservoirs: Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane (all extensions), Rietgat 105-JR, Soshanguve (all extensions), Tswaing 149-JR, Winterveldt, Winterveldt AH, Mabopane 702-JR, Nooitgedacht 256-JR. – Magaliesberg/Rosslyn Reservoir: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-Jr, Eldorette 311-Jr, Haakdoornboom 267-Jr, Hartbeesthoek 251- Jr, Hartebeesthoek 303-Jr, Hermon 289-Jr, Karenpark (all extensions), Klerksoord AH, Klerksoord (all extensions), Klipfontein 268-Jr, Rosslyn (all extensions), Rosslyn East (all extensions), The Orchards (all extensions), Witfontein 301- Jr, Witfontein 305-Jr, Clarina Ext 8, Chantelle Ext 41, Farm Areas (Akasia), Moloto. – Rama City meter: Rama City – Soshanguve DD Reservoir: Bultfontein 107-JR, Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane Unit CV, New Eersterust (all extensions), Soshanguve (all extensions), Sterkwater 106-JR, Stinkwater, Zoutpan 104-JR, Winterveldt Ext 4 – Soshanguve L Reservoir: De Beers, Kopanong (all extensions), Kruisfontein 359- JR and 262-JR, Onderstepoort 266-JR, Onderstepoort (all extensions), Rietgat 611-JR and Wentzelrust 223-JR, Mabopane S, The Farm 670-JR. – Plot 56 Strydfontein meter: Fundus AH Ext 0 and Patryshoek AH Ext 0. – Rosslyn Extension 15 meter: Nkwe Estate. – RW Direct 2 (SAB): SAB, Rosslyn Industrial area. – Winterveldt Reservoir: Kromkuil 99-JR, Winterveldt AH, Winterveldt AH Ext 1, Winterveldt 101-JR. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
26-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
16 days maintenance of Hartebeeshoek Reservoir coming in July
Tshwane metro has cautioned residents about planned water supply interruptions in July due to the regulatory inspection and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir. According to the metro, the city has been notified by Rand Water of its 16-day planned regulatory inspection and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, in compliance with the Dam Safety Regulations. This essential maintenance work, which will affect Tshwane's reservoirs and meters supplied by the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, is scheduled to start on Thursday, July 3, at 07:00 and is expected to be completed on Friday, July 18, at 19:00. 'According to Rand Water, their team of technicians will, in the first two days of the scheduled work, isolate and test the valves before draining the reservoir into the municipal reticulation system,' said metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba. He said the draining process is expected to take three days. Rand Water to carry out inspection and cleaning maintenance of the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir which supplies water to parts of Tshwane. — City of Tshwane (@CityTshwane) June 23, 2025 'Once the reservoir has been emptied, the team will install a bypass valve to allow the water utility to supply water through bypassing the reservoir during the scheduled work period,' Bokaba said. He explained that bypassing the reservoir will ensure that supply interruption is kept to a minimum, with low-lying areas continuing to receive water, albeit with low pressure. Bokaba emphasised that high-lying areas will have no water during the work period. 'The last part of the maintenance work, according to the water utility, will be to clean the reservoir. This process is expected to take six days to complete. Thereafter, the team will disinfect the reservoir for three days before activating supply to the impacted meters.' In addition, he said that roaming water tankers will be dispatched as and when the need arises. The following reservoirs and meters will be affected: – Akasia, Akasia East and Akasia West Reservoirs: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-JR, Chantelle (all extensions), Florauna, Hartbeeshoek 303-JR, Hartbeeshoek 312-JR, Hartebeeshoek 251-JR, Heatherdale AH, Heatherview (all extensions), Ninapark (all extensions), Plantland 567-JR, Witfontein 301-JR and Zandfontein 317-JR, Doreg Hermon 289-JR, KarenPark (all extensions ), Klerksoord AH, Plantland 644-JR, Rosslyn, Strydfontein 306-JR, The Orchards (all extensions), Farm areas (Akasia), Hartbeeshoek 614-JR, Clarina (all extensions), De Onderstepoort 300-JR, Dorandia, Eldorette (all extensions), Hesteapark (all extensions), Theresapark (all extensions), Winternest AH, Witfontein JRS Ga-Rankuwa East, Ga-Rankuwa West and Ga-Rankuwa Industrial Reservoirs: Ga-Rankuwa (all units), Medunsa 237-JR, Sjambok Zijn oude kraal 258-JR, Kafferskraal 308-JR, Ga-Rankuwa view, Kameelfontein 257-JR, Syferfontein 430-JQ, Krelingspost 425-JQ, Uitvalgrond 434-JQ, De Wildt AH, Ga-Rankuwa Z1, Rama 768-JR, Ga-Rankuwa Industrial. – Kruisfontein Reservoir: Soshanguve South (all extensions), Soshanguve A, B, TT, VV and XX, Wentzelrust 223-JR, Soshanguve East, Kruisfontein 262-JR, Kruisfontein 259-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR. – Klipfontein Reservoir: Klipfontein 268-JR, Klip-kruisfontein 708-JR, Soshanguve South Ext 12, Soshanguve South Ext 13. – Mabopane Main, Mabopane Res and Mabopane Central Reservoirs: Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane (all extensions), Rietgat 105-JR, Soshanguve (all extensions), Tswaing 149-JR, Winterveldt, Winterveldt AH, Mabopane 702-JR, Nooitgedacht 256-JR. – Magaliesberg/Rosslyn Reservoir: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-Jr, Eldorette 311-Jr, Haakdoornboom 267-Jr, Hartbeesthoek 251- Jr, Hartebeesthoek 303-Jr, Hermon 289-Jr, Karenpark (all extensions), Klerksoord AH, Klerksoord (all extensions), Klipfontein 268-Jr, Rosslyn (all extensions), Rosslyn East (all extensions), The Orchards (all extensions), Witfontein 301- Jr, Witfontein 305-Jr, Clarina Ext 8, Chantelle Ext 41, Farm Areas (Akasia), Moloto. – Rama City meter: Rama City – Soshanguve DD Reservoir: Bultfontein 107-JR, Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane Unit CV, New Eersterust (all extensions), Soshanguve (all extensions), Sterkwater 106-JR, Stinkwater, Zoutpan 104-JR, Winterveldt Ext 4 – Soshanguve L Reservoir: De Beers, Kopanong (all extensions), Kruisfontein 359- JR and 262-JR, Onderstepoort 266-JR, Onderstepoort (all extensions), Rietgat 611-JR and Wentzelrust 223-JR, Mabopane S, The Farm 670-JR. – Plot 56 Strydfontein meter: Fundus AH Ext 0 and Patryshoek AH Ext 0. – Rosslyn Extension 15 meter: Nkwe Estate. – RW Direct 2 (SAB): SAB, Rosslyn Industrial area. – Winterveldt Reservoir: Kromkuil 99-JR, Winterveldt AH, Winterveldt AH Ext 1, Winterveldt 101-JR. Bokaba said the city apologises for the inconvenience that may be encountered as a result of this essential maintenance work. Residents are advised to always adhere to the following water conservation measures: – Do not water or irrigate gardens with hosepipes or sprinkler systems between 06:00 and 18:00. – Do not wash vehicles with hosepipes. – Do not fill swimming pools. – Use a dual-flush toilet cistern. – Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways or patios. – Collect rainwater to reuse in the garden or wash the car. – Cover the swimming pool to reduce water evaporation. – Take a short shower rather than a bath. – Close a running tap while brushing teeth or shaving. – Regularly check toilets and taps for leaks. LISTEN: Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
