The Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu has called for an urgent meeting to address the issue of water shortage in Gauteng. Meanwhile, residents have been urged to use water sparingly as the three metros and district municipalities in the province continue to faces a water crisis. Rand Water has complained that usage of water has increased above average consumption and they've been forced to impose restrictions.

AVOIDING A COMPLETE SYSTEM CRASH

They have since implemented intermittent water supply since Friday night.This is despite the utility using  Stage 2 water restrictions from  earlier this month.Rand Water says it has taken this decision in order to stabilise and avoid the emptying of reservoirs and a "complete system crash." The utility's spokeswoman Makenosi Maroo said,  "Water consumption in Gauteng currently is almost double compared to 300 litres per person a day, compared to the world average of 173 litres per person per day."

CUT BACK ON WATER USAGE

The water restrictions will affect areas within the following municipalities: the City of Johannesburg,West Rand,Mogale , Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to name the few  .The utility  said these changes will remain in place until the system goes back to normal. "With rolling blackouts remaining the norm, municipal and provincial authorities and water utilities have urged consumers to cut back on their water usage because the lack of electricity means pump stations can't continuously operate at total capacity.
Most wastewater and sewage treatment facilities have generators installed, but if they break down, there is a substantial risk of spills, "said Maroo.

LOADSHEDDING AND HEATWAVE TO BLAME

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Maroo said they continue to recommend a ban on use of sprinkler systems for watering lawns, use of hosepipes to wash cars and clean pavements as some of the measures to save the situation.
"We had an agreement with Eskom that it would not implement load shedding at primary treatment and booster stations and that Rand Water was affected by load shedding only at its tertiary supply, which uses back-up generators to pump water."
Maroo blamed the recent heatwave and load shedding  for added pressure to the water supply, which was already stretched because the water infrastructure was not upgraded as the population grew.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng Department of Health said Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital were experiencing low water pressure but the supply is adequate . Despite their boreholes and the provision of water tankers, "the water supply challenges persist and continue to negatively affect the smooth provision of healthcare services".