JOHANNESBURG - Rand Water has warned of a potential system collapse.
The country's biggest bulk water supplier says levels are dropping faster than they can fill due to increased consumption in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
This has left residents across large parts of the city battling dry taps.
"The reason why are experiencing drops in our reservoirs is due to high consumption in the big metros including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane," Rand Water Spokesperson, Makenosi Maroo said.
She says an electricity outage at one of the utility’s water treatment plants on Tuesday also affected pumping which has exacerbated the situation.
Maroo has warned of dire consequences should the water system fail completely.
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"This is a warning. If we do not take measures the system will collapse. At Rand Water if we say a system is healthy that means reservoirs are sitting on 80%. Right now, reservoirs are sitting on different levels some at 60% and others at 40%.”
While possible system collapse looms, Maroo said Rand Water will do whatever it takes to protect the system’s integrity.
The utility says one of the reasons for the dry taps is upgrades which have affected several reservoirs.
On Friday, Joburg Mayor Dada Morero, conducted site visits at the Berea Reservoir and Eikenhof pump station.
He acknowledged the issue at hand and assured residents that they are working diligently to restore water supply as soon as possible.