Water in Johannesburg (2025)

Posted on Author Dlamini Blessing

Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub, faces ongoing water challenges that impact millions of residents. Aging infrastructure, high demand, and systemic leaks contribute to frequent shortages, leaving communities from Soweto to Sandton reliant on tankers or dry taps. Despite its billing as a “world-class African city,” the city’s water system is under strain, with 26% of its infrastructure in critical condition and a R32.54 billion renewal backlog. This evergreen guide explores the state of water in Johannesburg, detailing the causes of the crisis, current interventions, and practical solutions for residents and policymakers. Drawing from credible sources like Johannesburg Water, expert insights, and recent reports, Whether you’re a resident seeking conservation tips or a stakeholder advocating for systemic change, this comprehensive resource offers clarity on Johannesburg’s water landscape in 2025 and beyond.

Water in Johannesburg

The Current Water Crisis: Key Issues

Johannesburg’s water system, managed by Johannesburg Water and supplied by Rand Water, faces multifaceted challenges:

  • Aging Infrastructure: Nearly 26% of the city’s water and sanitation systems are in critical condition, with pipes over 70 years old in areas like Parkwood. A 2023/2024 city report estimates a R32.54 billion backlog for infrastructure renewal, with only 1% of required upgrades funded annually. Leaks account for 37% of water loss, and non-revenue water (lost or unbilled) nears 50%.

  • High Demand and Over-Extraction: Johannesburg consumes 1,750 megalitres (Ml) of water daily, but Rand Water’s license, expiring in September 2025, will reduce supply to 1,356 Ml/day by then. Heatwaves, like those in February 2025, exacerbate demand, straining reservoirs.

  • Power Failures: Frequent outages, including at Eikenhof and Emfuleni substations, disrupt pumping, depleting reservoirs in areas like Soweto and Johannesburg CBD. A City Power transformer trip in 2025 reduced Eikenhof’s capacity, impacting multiple systems.

  • Delayed Projects: Phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, a key supply source, is delayed until 2028, leaving Gauteng water-insecure. This exacerbates reliance on the Vaal Dam, which supplies 79% of the city’s water.

  • Inequitable Access: Informal settlements, like those south of Johannesburg, rely on limited tankers, forcing residents to use contaminated streams. Affluent areas often secure private solutions, deepening inequality.

Recent incidents, such as a two-week outage in May 2025 and daily restrictions from 6 PM to 5 AM (effective February 2025), highlight the crisis’s severity. Residents report dry taps, low pressure, or reliance on costly bottled water, with Soweto’s Lungile Khoza noting health issues from tanker water.

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Johannesburg’s Water Sources

Johannesburg’s water comes primarily from the Integrated Vaal River System, comprising 14 dams:

  • Vaal Dam: Supplies 79% of the city’s water, fed by rivers and inter-basin transfers from the Drakensberg and Lesotho.

  • Lesotho Highlands Water Project: Contributes 21% via the Katse Dam, but its tunnel maintenance (October 2024–March 2025) reduced supply, increasing restrictions.

  • Sterkfontein Dam: Used in emergencies, like when Vaal Dam hit 25% capacity in 2024, to supplement supply.

Rand Water treats and distributes this water, but its allocation is capped by the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure future sustainability, creating a mismatch with Johannesburg’s needs.

Impacts on Residents and Communities

The water crisis affects Johannesburg’s 5.5 million residents differently:

  • Urban Areas: Suburbs like Blairgowrie and Sandton face outages, with residents protesting after 10–14 days without water in 2024. High costs of bottled water (R25 for 5 liters) burden middle-class households.

  • Townships and Informal Settlements: Soweto and over 40 informal settlements south of the city rely on inconsistent tankers. Residents like Tsholofelo Moloi queue for hours, and some resort to unsafe streams, risking health issues.

  • Businesses and Economy: Water shortages disrupt operations, particularly in Gauteng’s industrial hub, threatening economic stability.

  • Public Health: Contaminated water from tankers or streams causes stomach ailments, as reported by Soweto’s Khoza, while limited water hinders hygiene.

  • Social Inequality: Wealthier residents invest in boreholes or desalination, while poorer communities lack alternatives, eroding the social contract.

Posts on X reflect public frustration, with users like @OUTASA highlighting underfunding (R1 billion allocated vs. R3 billion needed) and @MkhontoweSizwex calling the crisis “self-created.”

Johannesburg Water’s Response and Interventions

Johannesburg Water has implemented technical and policy measures to address the crisis:

  • Leak Reduction: Aiming to cut 103 Ml/day in losses, the utility reduced burst repair times from 48 to 24 hours, allocated overtime budgets, and procured emergency repair contracts. Non-revenue water, at 50%, remains a challenge.

  • Water Restrictions: Daily throttling from 6 PM to 5 AM, effective February 2025, conserves supply. Level 1 restrictions (ended March 2025) banned hosepipe use from 6 AM to 6 PM.

  • Infrastructure Upgrades: A R92 million project at Midrand’s Erand Tower and Pump Station, 60% complete in 2025, adds a 2 Ml tower to serve high-lying areas like Kyalami. The Reservoir Storage Upgrade Programme targets 24-hour storage capacity.

  • Metering Reforms: Replacing flat rates with metered consumption to curb overuse, alongside level 3 disconnections for illegal usage.

  • Alternative Supply: Tankers serve affected areas, though supply is inconsistent, as noted in Soweto and Lenasia.

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Despite these efforts, funding shortages and vandalism, like a jetting truck set alight in Lenasia South, hamper progress. Johannesburg Water condemns attacks on staff, which disrupt service delivery.

Long-Term Solutions and Challenges

Addressing Johannesburg’s water crisis requires systemic changes:

  • Infrastructure Investment: Experts estimate R64 billion is needed to replace aging systems, with R7 billion for water and sewer mains alone. Private sector partnerships and national government support are critical, as development contributions fall short.

  • Lesotho Highlands Completion: Phase two, delayed to 2028, will boost supply by 1.27 billion cubic meters annually. Until then, conservation is vital.

  • Maintenance Funding: Allocating R2 billion annually for maintenance, versus the current R1 billion, would reduce leaks and bursts. Ring-fencing water revenue, as suggested by experts, could ensure funds are used effectively.

  • Governance Reform: Replacing underqualified board members at Johannesburg Water and Rand Water with experienced engineers, as criticized on X, could improve management.

  • Community Engagement: Public campaigns, like Johannesburg Water’s Conservation Programme, encourage reduced consumption. Residents are urged to fix leaks, take shorter showers, and collect rainwater.

Challenges include political denial—Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda’s claim of “no crisis” despite 50% of residents facing shortages—and alleged corruption in projects like Lesotho Highlands, which cost taxpayers R2 billion extra.

Environmental and Ecological Impacts

Leaked water impacts Johannesburg’s rivers and ecosystems:

  • Jukskei River: Studies show more piped water than natural flow due to leaks, with isotopic signatures matching reticulated water. This pollutes rivers, harms biodiversity, and causes sedimentation, raising wetlands and altering river geomorphology.

  • Sewage Leaks: Sanitation system failures contribute to river pollution, posing health risks and ecosystem damage.

  • Erosion: Increased water flow from leaks erodes riverbanks, as seen in the Klip River, where sedimentation has raised water levels under bridges.

These environmental issues underscore the urgency of fixing infrastructure to protect Johannesburg’s natural systems.

Practical Tips for Residents

Residents can mitigate the crisis with these water-saving practices:

  • Conserve Water: Take showers under five minutes, turn off taps while brushing teeth, and use buckets for car washing. Johannesburg Water aims for a 10% consumption cut.

  • Fix Leaks: Repair dripping taps and toilets, which can save 30 liters daily per household. Report street leaks to Johannesburg Water’s hotline (011 688 1400).

  • Store Water: During outages, store 5–10 liters per person daily for drinking and cooking. Use sealed containers to prevent contamination.

  • Collect Rainwater: Install tanks for garden use, reducing reliance on municipal supply.

  • Use Greywater: Reuse laundry or bathwater for flushing toilets or watering plants, per Johannesburg Water’s guidelines.

  • Stay Informed: Follow Johannesburg Water’s website or social media for outage updates and tanker schedules.

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For safety, avoid streams or unverified water sources, and boil tanker water if unsure of quality. Use Uber or Gautrain for travel to secure areas when accessing tankers.

Opportunities for Stakeholders and Volunteers

Individuals and organizations can contribute to solutions:

  • Advocacy: Join groups like the Water Crisis Committee, founded by Ravin Singh, to push for faster repairs and funding.

  • Volunteering: Support non-profits like the Johannesburg Dream Center, which distributes water to needy communities.

  • Engineering Careers: Apply for Johannesburg Water’s 2025 bursaries in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering to build expertise for infrastructure upgrades.

  • Report Vandalism: Protect infrastructure by reporting illegal activities to law enforcement, as urged by Johannesburg Water.

Future Outlook

Without significant intervention, Johannesburg faces water shortages until at least 2029, when Lesotho Highlands expansions are complete. A 2024 Bloomberg report warns of persistent deficits, and experts like Benoit Le Roy stress that non-revenue water must drop below 50% to avoid collapse. However, projects like the Erand Tower upgrade and metering reforms show promise if scaled. Public cooperation, governance reform, and funding are critical to stabilizing the system.

Conclusion

Johannesburg’s water crisis in 2025, driven by aging infrastructure, high demand, and systemic inefficiencies, challenges its status as a global city. With 37% of water lost to leaks and a R32.54 billion renewal backlog, residents face outages, health risks, and inequity. Johannesburg Water’s interventions—leak repairs, restrictions, and upgrades like the R92 million Erand Tower—offer hope, but funding and governance gaps persist. Residents can conserve water, store supplies, and advocate for change, while stakeholders must prioritize investment and expertise. By addressing leaks, completing projects like Lesotho Highlands, and fostering community action, Johannesburg can secure a sustainable water future. Stay updated via Johannesburg Water’s website, and explore volunteering or bursary opportunities to contribute. The City of Gold’s resilience depends on collective effort.