GAUTENG MAY RUN OUT OF WATER SOON

If municipalities don’t act soon, Gauteng might face a future without water. And that future may be just around the corner.

That’s the opinion of Rand Water, a supplier of water to the cities of Ekuhuleni, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Rand Water warned that its water-storage facilities may soon be depleted if municipalities don’t act on its recommendations to fix leaks and conserve water.

The multiple heat waves haven’t helped the situation at all.

The main reason for South Africa’s water-supply system problem is deterioration. That’s because of inadequate maintenance, a lack of planning for population growth, corruption, political infighting, and mismanagement.

It’s no secret that Gauteng often draw more water than the amount allocated to them.

Currently, Rand Water pumps 100 million litres of water a day to the Tshwane municipality. That’s 18% more than its allocation and consumption is still rising.

Adding to the worry is the late summer drought Gauteng experienced earlier this year. It was triggered by the El Nino weather phenomenon and reduced water levels.

Gauteng is also facing immense water shortages due to the delays caused by the South African government that extended the date of completion for the massive Lesotho Highlands Water Project maintenance programme. The completion date of the $2 billion project has been delayed by a decade until 2029.

Image credit: EWN