Water supply interruptions at some Gauteng health facilities
The Gauteng Health Department has announced that several of its facilities in the province have been struggling with water supply since Wednesday afternoon.
The water shortage is due to a result of low water levels Dunkeld Reservoir.
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg and Pholosong Hospital in Ekurhuleni are among the affected facilities.
Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba says the Accident and Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and various wards are affected.
"The facility management is closely monitoring the situation and has put in place measures to divert Priority 1 (emergency and critical) and Priority 2 (urgent but stable) patients to other facilities when necessary.
"Rahima Moosa has been having inconsistent water supply as of 6 September due to Hursthill 1 Reservoir being critically affected. Johannesburg Water has committed to dispatching water tankers in the two health facilities to minimise the impact on services. In addition, technicians from the Department of Infrastructure Development are currently monitoring the water level in the hospital tanks while waiting for water tankers."
The water supply problems at Pholosong Hospital began on Thursday due to Rand Water’s Mapleton pump station not functioning.
"The hospital water reservoirs are very low, which means the main reservoirs do not have sufficient water to pump into the feeder tank, which then supplies the hospital. The hospital has since put measures which include the City of Ekurhuleni providing water tankers, hospital diversion to afford the hospital intermittent relief on all patients, especially Priority 1 patients and high-risk maternity and postponing elective surgeries."
ALSO READ
