{"id":796861,"date":"2024-10-28T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T07:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=796861"},"modified":"2024-10-28T12:31:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T10:31:17","slug":"joburg-disaster-collapsing-water-infrastructure-in-pictures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/796861\/joburg-disaster-collapsing-water-infrastructure-in-pictures\/","title":{"rendered":"Joburg disaster: Collapsing water infrastructure in pictures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Africa’s economic hub, Johannesburg, is approaching a crisis that will affect every household and business in the city – the collapse of its water infrastructure, and a “day zero” for when the taps run dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home to more than 6 million residents, Joburg is the heart of South Africa’s economic activities\u2014the location for the headquarters of various multinational corporations, key financial institutions, and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For businesses and investors, a clean, reliable, and consistent water supply where they operate is crucial\u2014but years of neglect and a severe lack of maintenance make this an incredibly dim prospect for the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the city has faced water challenges for some time, Rand Water recently provided a harsh reality check, warning that its system could be on the verge of collapse if water consumption was not drastically reduced across Gauteng. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWater storage levels throughout Gauteng Province have significantly declined due to excessive water withdrawals by municipalities, raising serious concerns,\u201d said Rand Water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRand Water is left with no option but take steps to protect its system from total collapse,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there have been many reasons for this\u2014such as rapid population growth and overconsumption\u2014experts say that the biggest culprits are unmaintained and underinvestment in municipal infrastructure, vandalism, and illegal water connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Infrastructure theft and vandalism are two of the most prominent and ongoing challenges that Johannesburg Water experiences, which results in substantial losses in terms of service delivery and financial targets and, consequently, the City\u2019s revenue,” Joburg Water told BusinessTech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a piece for News24<\/strong><\/a>, Professor Anthony Turton from the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of Free State outlined that there is a critical imbalance in supply and demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that one main driver is the \u201cgeneral collapse of the water infrastructure in the various municipalities being supplied by Rand Water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly problematic in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-revenue water (NRW) is the volume of water that is pumped but for which the municipality receives no income. The target for municipalities in South Africa is less than 25% but the actual NRW is much higher \u2013 currently ~46% in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Non-revenue water in Gauteng metros. Source: DWS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, real or physical water losses (runs to waste) are around 20% over the ideal target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith losses of this magnitude, it is impossible to keep the system pressurised, so irrespective of how much Rand Water supplies, the system remains unstable,\u201d said Turton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Source: DWS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He uses the metaphor of a leaking bucket to illustrate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of Rand Water as a hose and most Gauteng municipalities as leaking buckets. They will never be full, regardless of how much water is poured into them,\u201d said Turton.<\/p>\n\n\n

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An abandoned water leak repair project in Johannesburg. Photo: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In its most recent annual report, Joburg Water said that material water losses amounted to ~ R2.4 billion (up R300 million from the previous year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking at the outlined risks identified by Joburg Water does not paint a pretty picture:<\/p>\n\n\n

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Screenshot: Joburg Water 2022\/23 annual report<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Joburg Water’s July 2024 turnaround strategy highlights significant challenges in delivering quality water and sanitation services, primarily due to underfunding and inadequate investment in capital projects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 15 years, water pipe bursts increased by 30%, and water reserve capacity fell by 28%, making the system more vulnerable to disruptions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cash collection dropped from 86% in the early 2010s to 75% in 2022, and capital expenditure from service charges decreased from 18% to 7%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further explanations of this can be found in this Daily Maverick article<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Regardless of the debate of the effectiveness of the amount, Joburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said that “the allocated budget will focus on programmes geared towards water pipe replacement, upgrades and improvements to existing infrastructure, as well building new storage infrastructure in the form of reservoirs, as well as repairs and maintenance.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, the construction of a new Brixton Reservoir, Tower, and Pumpstation is in progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In early October, Joburg Water said<\/strong><\/a> that it has identified leaks in 42 reservoirs and plans to repair 20 of them. The repairs are \u201cat various stages\u201d and are due to continue \u201cover the next few years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager for WaterCAN, an OUTA initiative, expressed frustration at the delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s infuriating that Joburg Water is only now disclosing the extent of the leaks in the reservoirs, but we are relieved they are starting to provide information,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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For several hundred meters, water gushes down a Johannesburg street. Photo: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The City\u2019s 2024\/25 capital expenditure budget allocates about R290 million for work on 17 reservoirs and towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joburg Water said it plans to retrofit smart-flow controllers on the outlets of 28 high-consumption reservoirs and towers to help stabilise water levels, and roll out smart meters to homes to better manage water consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan, spanning 2021-2026, includes an initial R30 million investment as part of a larger R330 million project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adam said that detailed information is needed on necessary repairs, their urgency, timelines, and costs, “especially since the City claims it lacks funds for water infrastructure.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Photo: Seth Thorne<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The DWS gave Gauteng municipalities four projects which it said could and should be undertaken immediately to mitigate a water collapse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n