Johannesburg – Water supply authorities have warned that high consumption has depleted the City’s reservoirs and towers to record lows.
In a statement Thursday, (24 October 2024), Johannesburg Water called on customers and the wider community to join forces in “saving water and promoting sustainable water use”.
The statement added: “Due to high consumption, Johannesburg Water’s 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 Water said the City 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,” Johannesburg Water said.
“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.”
With growing concerns over water scarcity, every drop counts, Johannesburg Water said.
“We can all play a part in preserving this vital resource for future generations and avoid the possibility of a water crisis.”
Johannesburg Water said it has an ongoing Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WCWDM) programme that addresses the dire need for a continuous and sustainable water supply.
The WCWDM programme reduces the strain on Johannesburg’s water supply networks.
The programme includes a range of strategies that aim to reduce losses and decrease system input volume.
Some of these strategies 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 said it will reinstate and refurbish conventional pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) that are currently not operational due to vandalism and technical faults.
In addition, the water supply authority said smart pressure controllers will be installed on key network zonal PRVs to reduce bursts.
“All these interventions aim to reduce high pressures within the Entity’s system, thereby reducing minimum night flows and losses,” Johannesburg Water said.
“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.”
