Media Statement
27 March 2023
Improvements continue at Johannesburg Water’s critically affected sites
Johannesburg Water’s Crown Gardens system, which was severely affected last week, continues to improve steadily. While the system is not yet back to optimal levels, the Entity is able to provide water flows throughout the day as inflows are coming in from Rand Water.
Although the water levels at the Crown Gardens towers have improved (tower 1 is at 4.7m and tower 2 is sitting at 4.5m) the reservoir is still struggling with 2.2m of water levels. The low-lying areas have water supply; however, the high-lying areas are getting low flows, with a few streets in Robertsham still experiencing no water. The reservoir has been opened at 100% and water supply will be monitored throughout the night.
On Monday morning, inflows from Rand Water were around 21 megalitres per day, which is above average (normal flows are 18 megalitres per day). If these flows continue, we anticipate we will be back to having normal flows by Tuesday. We have opened the Crown Gardens reservoir at 100%, and this will be monitored. If it holds, normal supply should resume from tomorrow.
Flows on the Commando system (which comprises Hursthill, Brixton and Crosby) have normalised and we are seeing flows of above 2500 megalitres per day; however, the Hursthill system is still not back to normal and is battling with capacity. Hursthill 1 is sitting at 0.5m while Hursthill 2 is almost empty at 0.2m. As a result, high-lying areas being fed by the reservoirs are getting intermittent to no water supply.
The Brixton system is stabilising, and the reservoir is opened at 50%. If these levels are constant, then there will not be a need to close the outlet overnight to build capacity. If this trajectory continues, the supply zones should start getting normal water flows by Tuesday.
The Alexander Park system is still battling and does not have normal flows. This system is situated at a higher altitude, so it is the last to recover historically. As a result, the Alexander Park high-lying zones are experiencing intermittent to no water supply.
The Entity continues to provide alternative water supply to residents with no water and poor water pressure, with 16 roaming water tankers and 12 stationary tankers deployed on Monday.
Improvements continue at Johannesburg Water’s critically affected sites – Monday 27 March 2023
Water tanker sites of areas affected by the Eikenhof system pump failure – Monday 27 March 2023
Ends