JOHANNESBURG- Rand Water will shut down the Eikenhof pump station for 86 hours and reduce Zwartkopjes pump station capacity to 70% starting Friday morning, potentially leaving millions of Johannesburg residents without water during the festive season.

The Eikenhof station, which supplies water to two-thirds of Johannesburg’s CBD, Deep South, and West, will operate at just 20% capacity from 7:00 Friday until Monday. The maintenance affects critical systems including the Randburg/Roodepoort, Commando, Soweto, and Lenasia water networks.

Rand Water says the maintenance aims to make engine rooms independent, preventing total system failures during power outages. The utility chose December for the work due to lower industrial demand and population decrease during holidays.

Johannesburg Water MD Ntshavheni Mukwevho revealed the city attempted to postpone the maintenance to avoid disrupting Christmas shopping but was unsuccessful. The Commando System, one of the most sensitive networks, may take several days after maintenance to resume normal supply.

Dr. Ferrial Adam, managing director of WaterCAN, criticized the timing. “Johannesburg’s residents deserve better planning, management, and communication. Access to water is a basic human right, and the City must take accountability,” she said.

The City currently consumes 1,560 million liters daily, exceeding its allocated 1,500 million liter target due by September 2025. Officials have committed to providing water tankers to affected areas during and after the shutdown.

Affected areas include: The Randburg/Roodepoort System, affecting multiple reservoirs including Linden, Kensington B, and Heldekruin. The Commando System, impacting Crosby, Brixton, and Hursthill reservoirs. The Zwartkopjes maintenance will affect Parktown, Berea, Forrest Hill, and other major reservoirs.