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- Joburg Water logged 41 ‘unplanned incidents’ in two months
- This is double the number of planned repairs and maintenance
- +160 suburbs were affected by emergency water repairs
Johannesburg’s problems with water supply are deepening as the city struggles with poorly maintained and ageing infrastructure.
Joburg Water, the city’s water utility, recorded 41 ‘unplanned maintenance’ issues in October and November, compared with only 20 planned ones over the same two months.
Unplanned incidents, triggered by infrastructure failures such as burst pipes, affected over 160 suburbs. Residents in these areas experienced low water pressure or no water supply for the duration of the repairs.
Supply can also be disrupted by problems with reservoirs and water towers. Some areas, such as those near the Jabulani reservoir in Soweto, experienced prolonged disruptions, with work stretching for weeks.
‘Planned maintenance’ includes cleaning reservoirs and installing new pipes. Over the two months monitored by The Outlier, 100 suburbs were affected by planned repairs.
— 12 December, 2024Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for more charts like this
