An expert in water management has expressed his disapproval of Johannesburg Water for placing blame on residents for the city’s ongoing water supply challenges. The municipality had attributed the issues to high water consumption and increased demand.
Some areas within the municipality have experienced severe water shortages, prompting the use of water tankers to supply residents, while other regions have faced complete water unavailability.
Water specialist Anthony Turton contends that these recent water woes are not solely due to increased consumption but are also the result of a failure to upgrade and expand the city’s water infrastructure.
While acknowledging the impact of rising water usage, particularly related to population growth, Turton believes that Johannesburg Water has not adequately responded to the early indicators of potential infrastructure failures. According to him, much of their infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life, with an estimated five years left, and they have pushed it to the brink of failure.
Turton argues that Johannesburg Water must take responsibility for its shortcomings and inadequate planning. He asserts that blaming Rand Water or the public for the situation is disingenuous.
Concurrently, the City of Tshwane has also raised concerns about critically low water levels in its reservoirs, indicating that the challenges in the region are widespread and not limited to Johannesburg alone.