Rand Water has announced the completion of a significant 86-hour maintenance operation at the Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes pump stations, marking a key step in restoring water supply to Johannesburg residents and businesses.
Maintenance completed at Eikenhof and Zwartkopjes stations
While Eikenhof resumed pumping late on Monday evening, the gradual recovery of reservoirs means some areas will continue to experience water outages in the short term.
The maintenance operation began at the Zwartkopjes pump station before shifting to Eikenhof, where Rand Water concluded work on Monday, 16 December 2024.
Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo confirmed that some residents in low-lying areas are already receiving water, while high-lying areas may take longer to recover as reservoirs rebuild capacity.
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Johannesburg Water stressed that the recovery process is demand-dependent, with low-lying regions likely to experience normal water supply first.
The removal of airlocks and operational adjustments are underway to ensure a seamless flow as reservoirs stabilize.
Impact on residents and businesses
The maintenance led to widespread water outages across Soweto, Randburg, Roodepoort, Lenasia, Brixton, Crosby, Hursthill, and parts of Johannesburg Central.
The disruption, lasting more than four days in some areas, has left residents and businesses grappling with its effects.
In Orlando West, Soweto, local business owners reported significant financial losses due to the outage.
“We’ve had to close shop for days. Without water, we simply cannot operate,” one business owner shared.
Alternative water supply measures, such as water tankers, have been deployed to affected areas, and Johannesburg Water has urged residents to conserve water as the system recovers.
With maintenance completed at both pump stations, the next phase involves the gradual replenishment of reservoirs.
Johannesburg Water confirmed that pumping to certain reservoirs, such as Aeroton, Crown Gardens, and Alan Manor, will only begin once capacity reaches adequate levels.
While the completion of maintenance signals progress, Johannesburg Water has warned that full recovery will take time, particularly in high-lying areas.
