Rand Water is moving on to the final stretch of it months-long critical maintenance programme from June 30 until July 18.

The water utility started its critical maintenance work on May 29, staggering the work at different times and locations across various municipalities.

The planned maintenance, strategically scheduled during the low consumption months of May to July to minimise disruptions and better manage the potential impact on water supply, aims to increase capacity and improve plant availability, reliability and operational efficiency.

During the first part of the programme, Rand Water successfully connected the newly constructed B16 pipeline, which will supply water from the new Station 5A at the Zuikerbosch water treatment plant.

Additionally, the Russel Road meter has been installed and the Sasolburg Reservoir 1 has been cleaned.

The next phase will result in the reduction of pumping capacity at the Eikenhof, Zwartkopjes and Palmiet systems, with areas within the cities of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane possibly experiencing low water pressure or intermittent supply.

The maintenance may also impact water provision to the local municipalities of Rand West, Mogale City, Merafong, Madibeng, Lesedi, Govan Mbeki, Rustenburg and Royal Bafokeng, as well as nearby mines and industries.

Rand Water’s planned valves replacement at the Zwartkopjes station will affect the cities of Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg from 05h00 on June 30 until 07h00 on July 2, with no pumping for the 50-hour duration of the maintenance work.

Also from 05h00 on June 30, pumping at Eikenhof system will be reduced by 600 Ml/day for 48 hours as Rand Water embarks on pipe leak repairs at the Zuikerbosch plant. This portion of the maintenance programme will conclude at 08h00 on July 2.

This will affect the City of Johannesburg, as well as the Mogale, Merafong, Madibeng, Royal Bafokeng, Rustenburg and Rand West local municipalities and nearby mines and industries.

Leak repairs on the O2 pipeline will result in the reduction of pumping, to 1 200 Ml/d, or 67%, in the Palmiet system for 75 hours from July 15, at 05h00, to July 18, at 08h00.

This will impact the cities of Johannesburg and Tshwane, as well as the Madibeng local municipality.

Affecting areas within the City of Tshwane, particularly high lying areas of Soshanguve, is the 16-day Hartebeeshoek reservoir cleaning, within the Palmiet system, from 07h00 on July 3 to 19h00 on July 18.