Water shortages ‘due to high temperatures’ - Ntshavheni

Ntshavheni briefed the media on Monday following last week’s cabinet meeting.

The briefing came amid a warning by Rand Water that the current consumption patterns in the Gauteng metros could lead to a complete collapse of its systems.

The water utility said 80% of its supply is now going to Gauteng metros, which was in breach of its licence agreement with other municipalities.

The water board has increased its maximum peak water production to 5,200 megalitres daily.

Rand Water also blamed the heatwave for the high water consumption in the province.

"The impact of heatwave continues to result in high consumption above the set targets in all Gauteng metros. Technical teams from Rand Water and Gauteng metros continue to collaborate in implementing interventions that strive to stabilise reservoirs’ levels and water supply to various areas," said Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo.

"The impact of heatwave continues to result in high consumption above the set targets in all Gauteng Metros. In 2023, Rand Water launched Station 5A and increased its maximum peak water production to 5,200 Ml/d per day."

Ntshavheni said the various municipalities and relevant ministers are working on a plan to address the infrastructure-related problems.

"There is a programme that the minister of water and sanitation, together with executive mayors of the metros and other district municipalities, at that point, they were meeting every second week to discuss plans to make sure that they can curb water losses and plans to upgrade the infrastructure.

"We have called on residents to use water sparingly, but if you recall, in the past couple of weeks, there has been a heatwave across the country. Water consumption was an unavoidable phenomenon as people needed to keep hydrated and those with swimming pools needed to swim."

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