Johannesburg braces for water disruptions during scheduled Rand Water shutdown

The City of Johannesburg has on Monday appealed to residents to conserve water ahead of planned maintenance scheduled from 6 to 8 January 2026, aimed at strengthening the long-term reliability and sustainability of the bulk water supply network serving Gauteng, including Johannesburg.

The City said the work is preventative and unavoidable, targeting key infrastructure including valves, pipelines, pump stations and reservoirs, and is necessary to minimise the risk of unexpected outages and major system failures in the future.

City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero said some parts of Johannesburg are expected to experience water supply constraints and interruptions, with the extent of the impact differing by area, ranging from reduced water pressure to prolonged outages in some regions.

“Johannesburg Water has put in place extensive mitigation measures to limit the impact of the shutdown, including the strategic pre-filling of reservoirs, careful balancing of the water network, the deployment of water tankers to priority areas such as hospitals, clinics, old-age homes, schools and densely populated communities, as well as the establishment of command centres to monitor the system in real time and respond to incidents,” said Morero.

“Residents are strongly urged to use water sparingly before and during the maintenance period. High water consumption will worsen the impact and delay system recovery once supply is restored.”

Morero said they were working closely with Rand Water and other stakeholders to minimise disruption and ensure a safe, controlled restoration of supply after maintenance is completed. 

“Residents are advised that recovery will be gradual, not immediate. Some areas may experience airlocks, discoloured water, or intermittent supply as the system stabilises. These are normal after large-scale shutdowns. Clear and regular communication will be provided through official City and Johannesburg Water platforms, including social media, media briefings, and ward-based communication structures,” said Morero.