SOWETO - Water shortages are worsening across various parts of Johannesburg, with residents reporting days without water supply amid the heatwave.
In Soweto, one resident detailed how the community has been without water since Tuesday, with supply returning briefly during the early hours of the morning.
“We've been having challenges with water in this community whereby each and every weekend we don't have water at all. It is becoming a new normal now,” the resident said.
The resident adds that the situation becomes more concerning during the current heatwave when residents need water the most.
“We are encouraged to drink more water because people are going to suffer because of dehydration, but at this particular moment, Joburg Water is not doing justice to us."
He said adding to the frustration is the lack of communication between Joburg Water and residents.
READ | Joburg residents urged to take precautions as heatwave continues
In a statement on Saturday, Joburg Water said bulk supply meters in the Roodepoort and Soweto regions, which were closed on Thursday to rescue and boost bulk supply levels, commenced reopening on Friday afternoon.
The water utility said it is worth noting that systems were not fully opened but taken back to their original curtailment before being fully closed on Thursday.
“While some bulk supplier systems have stabilised and recovered, there are still several systems which will take time to recover over the next few days. The recovery is also impacted by the demand for the system as they are integrated.
“The affected Johannesburg Water reservoirs will first need to fill to acceptable levels before the system stabilises. Customers may experience low pressure or intermittent supply and, in some cases, no water until the system recovers,” the statement read.
In the meantime, Joburg Water said alternative water arrangements are being made and deployed through the central and regional coordination groups.