Major maintenance work leaves Joburg taps dry

Johannesburg Water is repairing a burst valve on its main water line, work it is describing as the largest it has ever done. 

As a result residents of Sandton, Bryanston, Woodmead, Morningside, Alexander and Libro Park and surrounding areas will be without water. 

MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services Nico de Jager says technicians are on site. 

"The site is on a very unstable landfill and the burst pipe is 35 meters underground. This is the largest repair job ever done in Johannesburg. It is so deep, we had to make sure we do not risk burying our employees alive during the maintenance process."

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De Jager says water supply is expected to be restored at 13:00, provided that there are no further complications.

"We will first have to flush the system. High-lying areas such as Bryanston will take longer to receive water due to the height in relation to pumping capacity," says de Jager.