Johannesburg – The city’s water authority has warned of possible dry taps owing to pumping problems at Hector Norris Pump Station.
Johannesburg, which has a population of about 6,5 million residents, has been experiencing water supply challenges in recent weeks.
Last week on Friday, 19 September 2025, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation gave Joburg Mayor Dada Morero and Joburg Water 14 days to present concrete solutions to alleviate ongoing water supply disruptions.
However, Joburg Water on Thursday, 25 September 2025, warned that some parts of the central business district and surrounding suburbs may experience low pressure or worse – dry taps.
“A technical fault is suspected within the pump station, leading to fluctuation in pumping capacity,” Joburg Water said.
The water utility said rigorous testing and investigations, both at the pump station and in the network, have been carried out over the last several days.
Joburg Water said its teams were working continuously to find the cause of the fluctuation in pumping capacity at Hector Norris Pump Station.
“Additional external resources to investigate the problem will be obtained,” Joburg Water said.
Due to the complexity of the challenge, Joburg Water said it was looking for both ”internal and external specialists”.
Joburg Water warned that as a result of the fluctuation in pumping capacity, “some parts of the CBD and surrounding suburbs may experience poor pressure to no water”.
Residents in lower-lying areas will continue to receive supply, while those in the higher-lying areas may receive intermittent supply, Joburg Water stated.
The water utility said it could not yet give a time when it expected the problem to be solved.
