Johannesburg Water affected by power failure at Vereeniging purification works

Johannesburg Water condemns assault of investigator during illegal connections operation in Tulisa Park

Media Statement

20 March 2023

Johannesburg Water affected by power failure at Vereeniging purification works

Rand Water’s Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant experienced a power failure in the
early hours of Monday morning, 20 March 2023, which impacted pumping capacity
at the bulk supplier’s Eikenhof pump station for a few hours.

Subsequently, supply to several Johannesburg Water’s systems were affected,
including the Commando system (comprising the Brixton, Hursthill and Crosby
reservoirs), Waterval, Quellerina, Eagles Nest and Crown Gardens.

Furthermore, Rand Water’s Meredale reservoirs and Johannesburg Water’s Waterval
2 reservoir were left empty. Although pumping was recovered to 100% at the Eikenhof
pump station, the system is still batting to fill the reservoirs.

In Johannesburg South, the Crown Gardens reservoir has been opened to 50%
capacity so that the Entity can sustain pumping into the tower to supply water. The
Eagles Nest reservoir has been put on bypass so that excess water can be put into
reticulation, to be able to sustain supply.

Rand Water has closed the inlet into the Weltevreden reservoir to push excess water
into the Waterval reservoir, which will feed into the Quellerina and Waterval towers,
as well as the Commando system.

The Quellerina and Waterval zones should be recovered by late Monday evening.
The Commando system is the most affected and the Johannesburg Water technical
team is working around the clock to improve water supply.

After an incident such as a power failure, full recovery can take up to five to seven
days on average, provided there are no other issues that arise that will affect the
system. As such, Johannesburg Water is looking into interventions to improve the
recovery period to the Hursthill 1 system, which includes linking Hursthill 1 with a
neighbouring reservoir system.

Johannesburg Water customers are still affected by low water pressure to no water.
Alternative water supply to critical areas has been provided by Johannesburg Water.
There are eight stationary water tanks in the below areas:

• Crosby – one stationary water tank at the Crosby clinic
• Brixton – one stationary water tank at 1 Rus Road
• Brixton – two water stationary tanks at the Brixton Recreation Centre
• Coronationville – one stationary water tank at the Coronation Recreation
Centre
• Coronationville – one stationary water tank at the Slovo Informal Settlement
• Westdene – one stationary water tank at the Engen Garage
• Melville – one stationary water tank at corner First Avenue and Main Road
• Melville – one stationary water tank at corner Seventh Street and Second
Avenue

Eight roaming water tankers, roaming in the following areas:
• Robertsham
• Westbury
• Coronationville
• Newclare
• Jan Hofmeyer
• Mayfair West
• Crosby
• Westdene

Issued by: Johannesburg Water Marketing and Communication.