Water still not restored to some of affected areas around Gauteng

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Despite urgent talks between the Joburg mayor and local councils overnight to deal with the current water crisis in the province, water has still not been restored to affected areas.

For most, it’s been almost two weeks with no running water. And very little respite in the blistering heat. The concurrent heatwave is also not helping matters.

It’s been a harrowing few days for the 80-year-old woman who has been without running water for the past 11 days. She’s struggling with mobility challenges and relying on the kindness of strangers to get her water.

“I’m not an engineer, but I know you can’t manage without water. I’m not sure if they’ve fixed it permanently or it will go off again, we are all on tenterhooks,” says Lucille O’Brien, resident.

Another resident says the lack of running water has left her feeling shaky and unsure.

“Then it becomes a problem, and you just don’t feel so good, but you can manage. I’m more sorry for my plants than my neighbours,” says Maretha Fourie, a resident.

It’s the most vulnerable who have had it the worst.

“Most of these people are not young anymore. They can’t carry buckets and get water, but our borehole was used for emergency. The home accommodates a few people but many of them are frail,” says Minda van Niekerk, Manager: Ekklesia Park Retirement village.

With the province in the grips of a heatwave, the increased frequency and intensity of the temperatures in areas with no access to water have led to environmentalists sounding off a warning.

“Heatwave would have an impact on human beings and for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the sick and the young ones and this may range from dehydration and in most cases, symptoms would include thirst, dry mouth, fatigue an dizziness, heat exhaustion,” says Prof Khangwelo Musetsho, Environmental Scientist: Naledi Environmental Consultants.

Johannesburg Water has been working on resolving the latest water crisis but civil organization group WaterCan believes the city is on the brink of a catastrophe.

“It’s shock and concern that a lightning strike led to ten days of no water to over 300 people in a city that is the economic hub of the country. What we found is that there is a lack of transparency and lack of communication by Joburg water, Rand water and the mayor,” says Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager: Watercan.

Johannesburg Water has struggled to supply alternative water to desperate residents. It’s led to local companies stepping in and supply residents with much needed water.

“We are part of the community, it’s easy to help and it’s our community, so we must help in a crisis, in the long run we are taking some of the bulk supply and moving it to your property so that you can control your own buffer capacity,” says Albertus Lombaard, Managing Director: Aqua Earth.

WaterCan says government must be held accountable.

“Our water problems won’t be solved overnight and because local government says they don’t have the funds to do so we need to push for this to be treated as an urgent issue the state of our infrastructure and water, water quality is all a big concern and if we don’t make it a war room concern, we will be kicking the can down the road,” Adam added.

Rand water is still to give clarity on why their valves were closed which exacerbated the water outage after the initial lightning strike at the Eikenhof Substation ten days ago.

Communities like these have been most affected by the water cuts, despite some relieve in a few areas, and the crisis talks held by the mayor and councilors, water is not likely to be restored soon.

Video: Some parts in Joburg still without water