by Teboho | Oct 24, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
24 October 2024 â 12:00
Media Statement
Johannesburg Water pleads with customers to be water ambassadors
As part of ongoing efforts to protect and conserve our precious water resources, Johannesburg Water is calling on its customers and the wider community to join forces in saving water and promoting sustainable water use.
With growing concerns over water scarcity, every drop counts, and we can all play a part in preserving this vital resource for future generations and avoid the possibility of a water crisis.
Due to high consumption, Johannesburg Waterâs reservoirs and towers are on the verge of depletion with levels at historical lows. As responsible citizens it is more critical now than ever to adopt water-saving practices both in our homes and workplaces.
Johannesburg must strike a difficult balancing act to handle water consumption that is outpacing supply because of the uncertainty surrounding future trends in population expansion, water demand, infrastructure investment needs, and budget constraints. This trend places immense strain on our bulk water system and jeopardises the sustainability of our water supply.
The Entity is addressing more than just the issue of consumption. The unaccounted- for water lost through leaks is equally concerning. Better water demand management is required to address both excessive use and water losses.
Johannesburg Water has an ongoing Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WCWDM) Programme that addresses the dire need for a continuous and sustainable water supply and to reduce strain on Johannesburgâs water supply networks.
The Entityâs WCWDM Programme includes a range of strategies that aim to reduce losses and decrease system input volume. Some of these programmes include repairs to identified leaking reservoirs, as well as retrofitting smart flow controllers on the outlets of 28 high-consumption reservoirs and towers to reduce water losses on the system. This will lead to improved and stable levels in these reservoir systems.
Johannesburg Water will reinstate and refurbish conventional pressure reducing valves (PRVs) that are currently not operational due to vandalism and technical faults. Smart pressure controllers will be installed on key network zonal PRVs in order to reduce bursts. All these interventions aim to reduce high pressures within the Entityâs system, thereby reducing minimum night flows and losses.
We urge all stakeholders to recognise the gravity of this situation and take immediate action to reduce water usage. Collective efforts are essential to safeguard our water resources for future generations.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by Teboho | Oct 17, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
17 October 2024 â 13:45
Media Statement
Update: Westbury and Coronationville interventions
Johannesburg Water continues to engage with ward councillors of the Westbury and Coronationville communities, informing them of the ongoing projects to improve water supply in the areas. Recently (Friday, 11 October 2024), the Entity held an urgent meeting with local councillors to discuss the situation, ongoing infrastructure upgrades, as well as to seek their assistance in encouraging residents to reduce water consumption.
This will be done through the Commando System Project, which will boost water supply to the district. The Commando System consists of the Hursthill, Crosby, and Brixton Reservoirs, and the project, which is at around 55% completion, will be executed as a phased approach.
Phase 1 is the construction of the New Brixton Reservoir, Tower, and Pumpstation, which are currently in progress. This is at around 60% completion.
Phase 2 is the upgrading of the existing Crosby Pumpstation, including a new rising main from the Crosby Pumpstation to the inlet of the Hursthill Reservoir to augment and boost supply, as well as the upgrading of the supply line from the Commando Meter to the Hursthill and Crosby Reservoirs. The contract is currently out on tender, which is closing at the end of October 2024. Construction is expected to commence in March 2025.
From today, Johannesburg Water teams will implement configurations to the Crosby Pump Station. The planned work forms part of phase one of the Commando System Project, and will take place from today, 17 October 2024 at 18:00 until Friday, 18 October 2024 at 02:00. A valve will be installed at the pump station during maintenance.
These are the Entityâs ongoing efforts to ensure consistent and long-term water supply through the upgrading of existing infrastructure, and the provision of new water infrastructure for additional capacity to support higher density settlements.
Affected areas: Hursthill, Crosby, Rossmore, Vrededorp, Vredepark, Bosmont, Croesus, Industria, Industria ext 1 â 3, Industria North, Industria North ext 1, Industria North, Industria West, Langlaagte, Langlaagte North and Longdale.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by Teboho | Oct 7, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
7 October 2024 â 14:30
Media Statement
Johannesburg Water intensifies strategies to curb water losses
Water Demand Management and conservation is a strong priority in the City of Johannesburg; and in support of the Department of Water and Sanitationâs drive to drastically improve Gautengâs water security, Johannesburg Water has an ongoing Water Conservation and
Water Demand Management (WCWDM) Programme.
Senior Manager for Water Demand Management and Technical Metering, Logan Munsamy said: âOperating concurrently with the Cityâs annual water restrictions, the WCWDM Programme was implemented to ensure a continuous and sustainable water supply and to reduce strain on Johannesburgâs water supply networks.â
The Entityâs WCWDM Programme includes a range of strategies that aim to reduce losses
and decrease system input volume.
1. Commando System Project
There are three main projects within the Commando System that aim to improve water supply to this district and will be executed as a phased approach. The project is at around 55% completion.
(a) Phase 1: Construction of the New Brixton Reservoir, Tower, and Pumpstation, which are currently in progress. This is at around 60% completion.
(b) Phase 2: Upgrading of the existing Crosby Pumpstation, including a new rising main from the Crosby Pumpstation to the inlet of the Hursthill Reservoir to augment and boost supply, as well as the upgrading of the supply line from the Commando Meter to the Hursthill and Crosby Reservoirs. The contract is currently out on tender, which is closing at the end of October 2024. Construction is expected to commence in March 2025.
2. Repairs to leaking reservoirs
The Entity has identified and assessed 42 leaking reservoirs, with plans in place to repair 20 of them as high priority in order to curb water losses. The 20 reservoirs are at various stages, and this project will continue over the next few years.
3. On-property leaks
There is a project aimed at fixing on-property leaks at residential homes as well as the rollout of the STS smart meters project, which will better manage and measure consumption and improve billing. This is done together with the replacement of customer meters and will at the same time address the challenge of illegal connections. All these projects aim to reduce physical losses and reduce non-revenue water losses.
4. Smart flow controllers
The Entity will retrofit smart flow controllers on the outlets of 28 high-consumption reservoirs and towers. This will assist in reducing water losses on the system and will lead to improved and stable levels in these reservoir systems.
5. Pressure management
The Entity will reinstate and refurbish conventional pressure reducing valves (PRVs) that are currently not operational due to vandalism and technical faults. Further to this, smart pressure controllers will be installed on key network zonal PRVS in order to reduce bursts . All these interventions aim to reduce high pressures within the Entityâs system, thereby reducing minimum night flows and losses.
âThe Entity will continue to mitigate water losses and improve the reliability of water supply. Similarly, we urge Johannesburg residents and businesses in the city to work with us in addressing the unsustainably high-water consumption, particularly during warmer months,â
Munsamy added.
Ends
Issued by Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Sep 17, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
17 September 2024 â 08:30
Media Statement
Johannesburg Water working around the clock to boost Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, areas impacted by Parktown 2 Reservoir challenges
Johannesburg Waterâs technical teams worked through the night at the hospital, investigating solutions to boost their supply.
After reconfiguration of the Parktown 2 system, which meant closing the outlet side of the reservoir, water was successfully channeled into Charlotte Maxeke storage to satisfactory levels, enabling the hospital to start pumping into their internal reticulation from this morning. Furthermore, water tankers were deployed since last night and into the early hours of this morning to further assist in filling the hospitalâs storage.
Currently, the Parktown 2 Reservoir is completely closed to build up capacity to supply the hospital, which is impacting the entire zone, thus the supply zone is dry. Once the levels improve, supply will be restored. The poor to no supply in the zone is due to the combination of insufficient supply from the bulk supplier and high demand. Johannesburg Water is engaging the bulk supplier to address the root cause of the poor bulk supply.
The Entityâs teams continue this morning with further investigation of the system to find the cause of sudden poor supply and high demand. These investigations require consistent intervention and troubleshooting. The reservoir remains reconfigured to boost incoming supply. However, there is no estimated time of restoration at this stage.
Meanwhile, the Berea Reservoir declined but is supplying fairly. Poor pressure may occur while supply is reconfigured to boost supply at the Parktown 2 Reservoir. The Entity is monitoring and making necessary adjustments to keep the system stable.
The Dunkeld Reservoir is critically low to empty. The inlet remains open, but the reservoir is affected by the reconfiguration of Parktown 2 Reservoir. Poor pressure to no water is expected in the supply zone.
Johannesburg Water remains resolute to closely monitoring all three reservoirs and making immediate necessary adjustments to improve the situation. Alternative water supply continues to be provided.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Jul 29, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
29 July 2024
Media Statement
Phase three of Rand Water Palmiet Pump Station maintenance is underway
The third phase, and the last of three, of the maintenance at Rand Waterâs Palmiet Pump Station began today, Monday 29 July, at 05:00, and is scheduled to end on Tuesday, 30 July 2024 at 21:00.
During this time, pumping will be reduced to 76% for 40 hours, which means that 24% of Palmietâs pumping capacity will be out of production.
Areas that are fed from the direct feeds, South Hills Tower, Alexander Park Reservoir, as well as the Linksfield Reservoir will be affected immediately when the maintenance begins; while areas that are supplied by the Sandton and Midrand reservoirs and towers will be affected gradually as all the reservoirsâ capacity gets depleted.
The following Johannesburg Water systems will be impacted during the maintenance period: all Sandton and Midrand systems, the South Hills Tower, as well as the Alexandra Park, Randjieslaagte, and Linksfield reservoirs.
Full recovery of the systems will take several days after maintenance has been completed. However, the areas supplied by the Sandton and Midrand reservoirs and towers may take longer to recover because the reservoirs need to first build capacity after being empty.
Johannesburg Water will make arrangements for alternative water supply at strategic points within the residential areas. However, residents are encouraged to store water in preparation for the maintenance.
Areas fed by Palmiet.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
by l3rato | Jul 25, 2024 | Media Statements 2024
July 2024 â 10:30
Media Statement
REMINDER: Phase three of Rand Water Palmiet Pump Station maintenance to begin on 29 July 2024
The third phase, and the last of three) of the maintenance at Rand Waterâs Palmiet Pump Station is scheduled to take place from Monday, 29 July 2024 at 05:00 and is scheduled to end on Tuesday, 30 July 2024 at 21:00.
Pumping will be reduced to 76% for 40 hours, which means that 24% of Palmietâs pumping capacity will be out of production.
Areas that are fed from the direct feeds, South Hills Tower, Alexander Park Reservoir, as well as the Linksfield Reservoir will be affected immediately when the maintenance begins; while areas that are supplied by the Sandton and Midrand reservoirs and towers will be affected gradually as all the reservoirsâ capacity gets depleted.
The following Johannesburg Water systems will be impacted during the maintenance period: all Sandton and Midrand systems, the South Hills Tower, as well as the Alexandra Park, Randjieslaagte, and Linksfield reservoirs.
Full recovery of the systems will take several days after maintenance has been completed. However, the areas supplied by the Sandton and Midrand reservoirs and towers may take longer to recover because the reservoirs need to first build capacity after being empty.
Johannesburg Water will make arrangements for alternative water supply at strategic points within the residential areas. However, residents are encouraged to store water in preparation for the maintenance.
Areas fed by Palmiet.
Ends
Issued by: Johannesburg Water Communication and Marketing.
