29-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Planned 16-day water supply shutdown to affect parts of Gauteng
Rand Water is undertaking a mandatory Dam Safety Evaluation (DSE) and cleaning operation on the Sasolburg Reservoir, which serves multiple communities. As a result, the water supply will be shut off from 6:00 on 30 May until 6:00 on 14 June. The affected areas include Tshepiso, Boipatong, Bophelong, Bophelong Extensions, Bonanne, and surrounding plots.
'The shutdown has been planned for some time and has faced several postponements due to the scale of its impact,' said the Emfuleni Municipality statement.
'Regrettably, it cannot be rescheduled anymore on account of regulatory requirements for ensuring reservoir and public safety.'
During the operation, the reduced pressure in the A15 pipeline will lead to water supply disruptions at the Bedworthpark, Sharpeville, and Vanderbijlpark reservoir meters. Despite the inconvenience, the municipality has promised to provide alternative water supply measures during the shutdown.
In addition to the Sasolburg project, Rand Water will conduct a wider infrastructure maintenance operation from Thursday to Monday. This includes upgrades at the Eikenhof, Palmiet, Mapleton, and Zwartkopjes systems, which may cause low water pressure or intermittent water supply across Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane.
'The objective of this planned maintenance is to increase capacity and improve plant availability, reliability, and operational efficiency,' said Rand Water spokesperson Makensoi Maroo.
'Thereby supporting a more resilient and adaptable water supply network in preparation for the anticipated increase in supply volumes from August.'
Maintenance will affect supply in local municipalities such as Rand West, Mogale City, Midvaal, Emfuleni, Merafong, Madibeng, Lesedi, Govan Mbeki, Rustenburg, Victor Khanye, and Thembisile Hani.
Residents have been urged to prepare for the upcoming shutdown by storing water in advance and using it sparingly. Efforts to mitigate the water supply impact are underway, but cooperation from the public remains essential.
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