Water warning for people living in Johannesburg and Pretoria
Residents of Gauteng are being urged to reduce their water consumption as temperatures rise across the province.
The Gauteng provincial government has appealed to residents, businesses, and institutions to use water more sparingly, as consumption continues to rise.
Officials have expressed concern over the steady rise in water consumption throughout the province, warning that reservoir and tower storage levels are declining even while pumping systems operate at or near full capacity.
Department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga stated that this trend is placing increasing strain on the province’s water supply network.
According to Mhlanga, the three metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng together use approximately 70% of the water supplied by the bulk provider, Rand Water.
The rising demand is affecting the system’s ability to keep up with consumption.
“The Gauteng Provincial Government has noted with concern the continued rise in water consumption across the province,” said Mhlanga.
“As a result, reservoir and tower storage levels are declining despite the systems operating at or near full pumping capacity,” Mhlanga said.
He said the pressure on supply infrastructure made responsible water use critical for keeping the system running reliably.
“The increased demand experienced by municipalities is placing significant pressure on Gauteng’s water supply system,” Mhlanga said.
Residents are encouraged to take practical steps to reduce water consumption, including:
- Repairing leaking taps and pipes
- Taking shorter showers
- Using water-efficient appliances whenever possible
- Avoiding the hosing of driveways and pavements
- Limiting garden watering to essential times
Mhlanga also emphasised that residents have a responsibility to report issues to their municipalities.
“Residents should make water conservation a daily habit and promptly report leaks, burst pipes and other water losses to their local municipalities,” he said.
Community Development Workers are being mobilised to promote water conservation and encourage behavioural change.
This increase in water consumption coincides with a sudden spike in temperatures in Gauteng this week.
“Temperatures are increasing quite significantly,” Forecaster at the South African Weather Service, Thabo Magoro, told Jacaranda FM Newswatch earlier this week.
Magoro explained that this is mainly due to weather systems in the upper and lower atmosphere.
He explained that, at its surface, the system is identified as a powerful high-pressure area originating over the Atlantic Ocean, while in the upper atmosphere, it is simply classified as a high-pressure system.
According to Magoro, although these conditions do not qualify as a heat wave, he advised residents in the affected areas to take measures to stay cool.
“I would advise the public to always stay hydrated, wear clothing with long sleeves and try not to travel long distances,” he said.
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