Total water system collapse alert for major cities in South Africa

Rand Water has issued a warning to residents of Tshwane and Johannesburg, urging them to reduce their water consumption or face a total system collapse.

The water utility revealed on Wednesday (12 February) that its systems are under severe strain due to excessively high consumption levels, with storage levels dropping at an alarming rate.

Despite Rand Water operating at full capacity, demand continues to outstrip supply, particularly in Johannesburg and Tshwane, where consumption figures have been steadily rising.

“Rand Water calls on the above-mentioned customers to reduce their consumption to avoid system collapse, which will inevitably affect other customers as well,” the utility said.

The water network is highly interlinked, meaning that excessive use in one area places strain on supply in others, creating a cascading effect that could disrupt water provision across multiple municipalities.

The City of Johannesburg has shown a persistent upward trend in consumption despite efforts to curb usage.

While consumption levels temporarily dropped in mid-December 2024 due to Rand Water’s maintenance, they surged again immediately afterwards.

Additionally, Tshwane is consistently exceeding its allocated water quota, exacerbating pressure on already strained resources.

Adding to the crisis, Rand Water said electricity outages have further compromised water supply operations.

“On Tuesday (11 February), a complete power failure at the Emfuleni power substation disrupted operations at Rand Water’s Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant, which is entirely dependent on power from the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM).

“The outage, caused by the failure of ELM’s transformer, was briefly resolved, restoring full operations by 18h20.

“However, another power failure at 20h20 once again halted pumping, leading to a rapid depletion of reservoirs supplying areas including Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Forest Hill, Yeoville, Benoni, and Eikenhof,” said Rand Water.

The impact of these disruptions extends far beyond Johannesburg and Tshwane.

The affected municipalities include Emfuleni, Metsimaholo, Ngwathe, Rustenburg, Royal Bafokeng Administration, Rand West, Merafong, Mogale City, and Ekurhuleni.

In addition, industries, mines, and direct customers relying on Rand Water will also experience disruptions

This crisis underscores the long-standing challenges facing water infrastructure in Gauteng.

Both Johannesburg and Tshwane have historically struggled with ageing infrastructure, frequent pipe bursts, and inadequate investment in maintenance and upgrades.

Population growth and urban expansion have placed additional strain on water supply systems, making them increasingly vulnerable to breakdowns.

Moreover, load-shedding has compounded these issues, as water treatment and pumping stations depend on stable electricity to function effectively.

Unplanned power cuts have frequently led to water shortages, with reservoirs failing to recover quickly enough to meet demand.

The combined effects of high consumption, electricity instability, and ageing infrastructure have created a perfect storm that threatens the reliability of water supply in South Africa’s economic hub.

With the situation deteriorating, Rand Water has reiterated the need for urgent water conservation measures.

Residents and businesses are urged to use water sparingly, fix leaks promptly, and adhere to municipal water restrictions.

Cover photo: From BusinessTech