Dada Morero's strategy to stabilise Johannesburg's water supply

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says the City is taking decisive action to stabilise the water supply network and reduce consumption through a comprehensive, multifaceted Water Demand Management programme.

Morero said the programme involves “coordinated efforts between the City, Johannesburg Water, Rand Water, and key stakeholders to address both immediate and long-term water security challenges.”

He added that the programme includes “detailed assessments of water usage patterns, targeted interventions in high-risk areas, and the deployment of cutting-edge technologies to monitor and optimise the entire supply system.”

The mayor said Johannesburg remains one of the largest consumers of bulk water supplied by Rand Water, and while “significant progress has been made in reducing daily consumption, with multiple projects resulting in a measurable decline in water demand,” the City still has to meet a critical target.

Morero said the City “must still reach a critical target of 1 550 Ml/d to comply with licence apportionment requirements.”

He said the administration was implementing “a suite of urgent, practical interventions, including real-time monitoring of consumption at the district and household levels, partnerships with businesses to drive water-saving initiatives, and enhanced public awareness campaigns.”

He said the aim of these measures was “protecting supply, meeting regulatory obligations, and building long-term resilience within the municipal water system.”

He said immediate measures already underway include “night-time throttling to reduce losses, strategic bulk meter restrictions in high-consumption zones, intensified pressure management, and advanced leak detection technologies deployed across the network.”

Morero added that the City is conducting “rapid response repairs for identified leaks, increasing the frequency of system audits, and collaborating with local ward committees to identify problem areas more quickly.”

He said infrastructure challenges, illegal connections, and historical underinvestment continue to strain the system. Through Johannesburg Water’s Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy, Morero said the City is accelerating “reservoir repairs, pipeline replacement programmes, smart metering, and more rigorous enforcement of by-laws to reduce non-revenue water and restore system efficiency.”

He said communities supplied by the HH2 reservoir, including Melville, Westdene, and Parktown West, “have experienced supply disruptions due to constraints within the Commando system and ongoing commissioning work.”

Morero said technical teams are restoring stability by “addressing pressure issues, flushing networks to clear blockages, and securing alternative supply via water tankers and mobile storage units where necessary.”

He said the City is providing “regular updates to affected residents and maintaining open communication with local councillors to ensure community needs are met throughout the restoration process.”

Morero said the City is investing in major infrastructure upgrades in the Brixton, Crosby, and Hursthill supply districts, including “the construction of new reservoirs, the installation of modern pump stations, and the refurbishment of ageing infrastructure.”

He said these projects are expected to “significantly improve capacity, operational flexibility, and resilience upon completion.”

Morero acknowledged the inconvenience caused by water supply challenges and said the City is making every effort to stabilise the network “as quickly as possible.”

He urged residents, businesses, and institutions to “reduce water consumption, report leaks promptly and strictly adhere to water-saving measures during this period,” and said the City will “continue to provide timely updates as projects progress.”

He said Johannesburg remains committed to “protecting essential services, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring a reliable and sustainable water future for all.”

hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za 

IOL Politics