- Rand Water’s December–January 2025/26 maintenance is strategically timed but will test resilience.
- Johannesburg’s 2024 experience exposed failures in communication and contingency planning.
- Shared accountability is essential for recovery and long‑term water supply stability.
As we enter the summer months, accompanied by encouraging rainfall thus far, Rand Water has once again scheduled essential planned maintenance on its systems for December 2025 and January 2026. This period was strategically selected.
Water demand is generally lower due to the closure of schools, industries and some businesses, and the temporary departure of many residents from the Gauteng Province. Combined with the current favourable rainfall, these conditions should help reduce inconvenience to consumers and support faster recovery of affected systems once maintenance is complete.
Rand Water’s planned work, aimed at improving the reliability, efficiency and continuity of supply across its networks, will occur in three phases to minimise disruption and better manage potential risks. The maintenance will affect major metropolitan areas in Gauteng, including the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni. Reduced pumping capacity at the Eikenhof, Palmiet and Zwartkopjes systems during the scheduled periods may result in low pressure or intermittent supply in certain areas.
The Eikenhof system will experience the most significant interruptions. Phase one will take place from 13 to 15 December, when necessary work on the Zuikerbosch system will affect supply for 54 hours. This will be followed by phase two from 19 to 21 December, and phase three from 6 to 8 January 2026, each also requiring 54 hours of reduced to no pumping.
Lessons from Johannesburg’s 2024 failures
It is hoped that the affected municipalities have used the mandatory 21‑day notice period effectively, ensuring residents are well-informed and implementing the necessary contingency plans. Ultimately, municipalities bear the responsibility for maintaining an uninterrupted water supply within their jurisdictions. Appropriate preparation, including effective management of storage capacity, is essential to mitigating disruptions.
Consumers have similarly been advised of potential shortages and the expected extent of the disruption within their areas. Yet recent experiences, particularly within the City of Johannesburg during the December 2024 maintenance period, remain a stark reminder of how quickly situations can deteriorate.
Many residents experienced prolonged interruptions, rushed to purchase bottled water to avoid the threat of a dry Christmas, and faced delays or complete gaps in alternative water provision. Communication and contingency measures were insufficient, exposing vulnerabilities that should not be repeated.
Shared accountability for resilience
It is therefore sincerely hoped that both municipalities and residents have heeded the lessons of the past. Municipalities must lead with coordinated, proactive and transparent planning, avoiding the disorganised or delayed responses that previously left communities vulnerable.
Consumers, in turn, must adopt responsible water use behaviours, implement household‑level contingency measures where possible, and recognise that supply systems remain sensitive to prolonged disruptions.
Critically, once Rand Water completes its work, restoration will not be immediate. Systems require time to stabilise and build pressure, and responsible demand during this recovery period is vital to avoiding extended outages. A coordinated effort from all parties — Rand Water, municipalities and consumers alike — is essential to navigating the upcoming maintenance successfully.
While water systems are under increasing strain within the City of Johannesburg and others, with informed planning, responsible use and shared accountability, we can reduce the impact of these disruptions. Ensuring a stable and resilient supply is and will continue to be a collective responsibility, with us all having an important role to play.
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