Water levels in Gauteng are dangerously low, and the province could experience a ‘Day Zero’ scenario in coming days. The situation is so dire that two municipalities, Tshwane and Joburg, have started implementing measures to prevent a total collapse.  

We’ve told you over the course of this year about the Gauteng province’s growing water woes. Water outages have become the norm in many parts of the province, and even more areas are set to be affected after Joburg Water, the city’s water utility, revealed to councillors on Friday that 42 of its 87 reservoirs are leaking.😱 Joburg Water called the meeting with the councillors to urge them to ask the residents in their communities to use less water.

In Tshwane, the municipality is implementing level one water restrictions and has warned that higher levels could be implemented, leading to increased water bills.

Rand Water has warned communities in Gauteng to brace themselves for potential water cuts. “Unfortunately, the crisis we sought to prevent has now materialised. The water supply systems in Gauteng, including Rand Water reservoirs, are critically low, and the situation is anticipated to worsen with the ongoing heat wave,” the utility said on Saturday.

But what is causing the water crisis, and what can be done? 

It’s a myriad of factors, which include overconsumption, ageing infrastructure and climate change. 

Overconsumption

Johannesburg’s residents use 279 litres of water daily—60% more than the global average. This isn’t uniform across the board, especially when considering South Africa’s high levels of income inequality.

According to Rand Water, Johannesburg has been using 61% more water than the government allows, while nearby municipalities like Ekurhuleni and Tshwane are overusing by 80% and 63%, respectively. It’s a classic case of too much demand and not enough supply.

Climate change

Throw in the climate crisis, and things get even worse. Longer droughts and higher temperatures have hammered Johannesburg’s water reserves. El Niño, a natural climate pattern, has reduced rainfall even further, pushing water consumption up as supplies are dwindling.

Ageing infrastructure

Gauteng also has an ageing water reticulation system, and according to Ayesha Laher, a water scientist at AHL Water, about 40 percent of water in Gauteng is lost through system leaks and illegal connections. “We have pipes that are more than 50 years old and are ageing. We’re not managing the water reticulation network well,” says Laher. She questions why we’re not using new technologies to detect leaks. “We need great technology to find leaks and illegal connections.”

Professor Anja du Plessis, Associate Professor at the University of South Africa and Water Management expert, agrees. “Currently, the Gauteng Province lacks the implementation of innovative technologies or approaches to ensure reliable water supply, as is evident from the increase in frequency, magnitude, and duration of water outages, mostly due to defective and damaged water infrastructure,” she says. 

So, what can be done to salvage the situation? Rand Water has urged municipalities to repair leaks, enforce by-laws, and address illegal connections. “Rand Water is left with no option but take steps to protect its system from total collapse.” If you’re a resident of Gauteng, consider being mindful of your water consumption. Take shorter showers, fix or report leaks and follow your municipality’s water restrictions. This is a fight we all should participate in to save water for future generations.