BY: Zanele Makola
Residents of Pretoria East have been suffering for the past few days due to a water supply disruption. The areas affected by the water cut include Mamelodi, Nellmapius, Lynnwood, Alphen Park, Erasmusrand, Garsfontein, Groen Kloof, and Suiderberg West.
A crucial part of the Tshwane water delivery infrastructure, the Mapleton system operated by Rand Water, underwent major maintenance. The maintenance period lasted 77 hours, or three days and five hours, during which no water pumping took place. It started on Friday, 26 July 2024, and ended on Monday, 29 July 2024.
Municipal Spokesperson Lindela Mashigo said that the water interruptions were due to the water utility’s comprehensive maintenance program of the Mapleton system. “During the maintenance period, the water utility did not pump any water from the Mapleton system, which supplies 36 of the city’s reservoirs and bulk meters,” he said.
The essential maintenance caused substantial water supply interruptions in several regions of Tshwane, including regions 2, 3, and 6. In response to the disruptions, the city mobilized water tankers to deliver much-needed supplies to the affected areas.
As of today, the bulk and distribution systems of the city remain depleted. Rand Water’s team is currently charging the pipelines, an essential stage prior to resuming water pumping operations. The network requires approximately two weeks to fully recover and reach optimal pressure.
Tshegofatso Motlhabane, a student teacher at Vukani Mawethu High School in Mamelodi West, is severely affected by the water outage. “I am currently doing my practical examinations, which have to be assessed, and I have not been attending classes because of the water crisis. I am scared it will affect my overall performance, and I need to do well to graduate with good results,” she said.
Rand Water performed final maintenance on the Palmiet system on 29 July, beginning at 5 a.m. This maintenance lasted 40 hours and concluded on Tuesday, 30 July, at 9 p.m. During that time, water pumping was reduced by 76%.
