Residents have been advised to implement water conservation measures and establish contingency plans to manage the extended periods without normal water supply.
Rand Water has successfully commenced its major B16 pipeline maintenance programme this morning, with valve isolation already completed.
The utility is currently undergoing extensive infrastructure work that will disrupt water supplies across Johannesburg and surrounding areas for up to 21 days.
The critical maintenance, which began at 3am on Thursday, 29 May, marks the start of a comprehensive programme running until July 21, 2025.
According to the utility, the maintenance is designed to improve network reliability and increase operational capacity across the Gauteng region.
Rand Water maintenance first phase underway
The initial phase involves connecting the newly constructed B16 pipeline from Zuikerbosch Station 5, requiring the complete shutdown of pumping operations at Mapleton station for 107 hours until 2 June at 5pm.
Rand Water’s planned tie-in of B16 pipeline from Zuikerbosch Station 5, which will take pumping at the Mapleton pumping station offline for 107 hours, is expected to impact the cities of Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
The utility confirmed on Thursday morning that the maintenance programme had begun and that isolating valves had been completed successfully.
Rand Water B16 planned maintenance commenced this morning, and the isolating of valves has been completed.#RWPlannedMaintenance2025#RWWaterDemand #RWWaterSupply #RWWaterSustainability
[LE] pic.twitter.com/oliDrXomBZ— Rand Water (@Rand_Water) May 29, 2025
Eight-phase programme timeline
The comprehensive programme includes eight distinct phases of work, with varying impact levels designated by colour-coded severity ratings ranging from minor 22-hour installations to major 21-day cleaning operations.
Following the current B16 connection work, the second phase will continue on May 29-30.
This involves pump set disconnection and removal for overhaul at Amanzimtoti Pumping Station, lasting 13.5 hours with no pumping operations during this period.
The third phase will commence on May 30 and affect the Sasolburg 1 Reservoir for two weeks until June 15.
This major operation will completely halt supply to the reservoir. It will impact water distribution to:
- Metsimaholo,
- Ngwathe, and
- Emfuleni areas throughout the duration.
Between 3 June and 2 July, multiple overlapping maintenance activities will create compounding supply challenges.
As part of the fourth phase, these include a 22-hour Russell Road meter installation on June 3.
The fourth phase will impact Primrose and surrounding areas.
It will be followed by a 48-hour Zuikerbosch leak repair from June 30 to July 2 that will affect the Eikenhof system and reduce pumping capacity to just 50% for 42 hours.
Thereafter, the sixth phase will go on for 50 hours for the replacement of defective Zwartkopjes station valves.
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Rand water major tank cleaning operation
The longest disruption will occur during the final phases, with Vereeniging Sedimentation Tank cleaning scheduled from Friday 30 June to 21 July.
This 21-day operation represents the most extensive maintenance activity in the programme, reducing pumping at Eikenhof to 80% capacity for the entire duration.
“The maintenance work has been strategically scheduled during the low consumption months of May to July 2025 to minimise disruptions and better manage the potential impact on water supply”, according to information provided to residents.
The last phase, phase 8, will run for 50 hours. The utility during this period will attend to O2 leak repairs.
This phase will affect the Palmiet system, reducing 67% of the water supply.
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Strategic timing during low consumption period
Rand Water has deliberately scheduled this extensive maintenance programme during the winter months when water consumption typically decreases.
The utility aims to complete critical infrastructure improvements while minimising the overall impact on consumers during a period of naturally reduced demand.
Infrastructure objectives
The aim is to “increase capacity and improve plant availability, reliability and operational efficiency,” the utility said.
The comprehensive maintenance programme addresses aging infrastructure challenges that have contributed to ongoing supply difficulties across the region.
Residents have been advised to implement water conservation measures and establish contingency plans to manage the extended periods without normal water supply.
The utility has emphasised that the work is essential for long-term system reliability and improved service delivery once completed.
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