Joburg residents face week-long water wait after Rand Water maintenance

City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero has warned that residents may have to wait at least seven days for water to return to their taps after Rand Water completes scheduled 54-hour maintenance on January 8.

Morero said some households could be without water for up to a week following the final phase of planned maintenance at the Eikenhof Pump Station. 

He was speaking at a media briefing on Monday in Johannesburg.

The 54-hour maintenance, part of essential upgrades to critical bulk water infrastructure, is scheduled to run from 4am on Tuesday to 8am on January 8, 2026.

“These improvements are necessary to enhance the long-term reliability and sustainability of water supply to parts of Johannesburg,” Morero said. 

“However, they will cause temporary water supply disruptions in some areas.”

Johannesburg Water systems expected to be affected include the Roodepoort Deep, Fleurhof, Doornkop, Meadowlands 1 and 2 (including direct feeds), and Braamfischer reservoirs.

During the maintenance period, the volume of bulk water supplied to Johannesburg Water’s network will be significantly reduced, Morero said. 

He said as a result, reservoirs will gradually deplete, leading to low water pressure or outages.

Morero added that once pumping resumes on 8 January, the system will not recover immediately.

“Johannesburg Water’s infrastructure will require at least seven days to stabilise and recover fully,” he said.

Morero said the city, Johannesburg Water and Rand Water have put contingency plans in place to limit the impact. 

Reservoir levels have been managed in advance, response teams are on standby, and alternative water will be supplied through stationary and roaming tankers during the maintenance and recovery periods.

Morero also addressed a recent water pipe burst in Bezuidenhout Valley, at the corner of 10th Avenue and Albertina Sisulu Road. 

He said the damaged steel pipe was located near a sewer manhole and required specialised welding, including the removal of a T-piece.

The mayor said while the city awaited the availability of a welding crew, a nearby sewer manhole became blocked and overflowed, spilling sewage into the trench and mixing with water from the damaged pipe.

“On Monday, December 29, during efforts to isolate and repair the water line, sewage infiltrated the water pipe through the damaged section,” Morero said.

He said residents later reported a sewage smell in their water. Jetting equipment was already on site and successfully unblocked the sewer line.

According to him, as a precaution, water meters were removed from affected properties, residents were advised not to use tap water, and a water tanker was deployed.

Repairs were completed late on December 30.

The system was flushed, and water samples were collected by Cydna Laboratory. Test results typically take 36 to 48 hours.

The first results showed non-compliance at all sampling points, prompting continued flushing. 

He said a second round of tests showed improvement, with three of seven sampling points passing.

On Thursday, January 1, authorities issued a preliminary confirmation narrowing the affected area to 6th through 10th avenues, Albertina Sisulu Road and 10th Street.

Further flushing and testing followed. 

Morero said as of January 4, 2026, results showed significant improvement, with only two of seven sampling points still failing to meet minimum drinking water standards under SANS 241.

He added that as an added precaution, bulk dosing is under way to ensure broader flushing of the network, despite the impact being limited to a small area.

Meanwhile, Johannesburg Water spokesperson Nombuso Shabalala said water shortages are expected during the Rand Water maintenance period.

“Alternative water supply through water tankers will be provided where required,” she said.

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