Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant affected by severe thunderstorm

 On Thursday, 21 September 2023, Rand Water informed the City of Tshwane about their Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant that had experienced a power trip which affected production.

This follows disruptions in operations due to a severe thunderstorm that occurred around midnight on Tuesday, 19 September 2023. Attempts to restart the plant revealed faults along the overhead power lines supplying the plant.

The power failure resulted in the loss in production of 2 000 million litres of water per day. This load reduction impacted all municipalities supplied by Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant, namely the City of Tshwane, City of Ekurhuleni and City of Johannesburg, among others.

The following systems are affected:

• • Palmiet System: Klipriviersberg, Klipfontein, Brakfontein, Germiston, Northridge, Hartebeeshoek and Vlakfontein
• Mapleton System: Brakpan, Vlakfontein, Selcourt, Wildebeestfontein, Stompiesfontein and Bronberg
• Eikenhof System: Meredale and Waterval

The Mapleton System, which supplies mainly the eastern parts of Tshwane, has since recovered and is pumping at full load. The Palmiet System (supplying the western part of Tshwane) has been unstable, and this was further exacerbated by the power failure that occurred this morning, 21 September 2023.

To avoid losing the supply system, most reservoirs on the Rand Water’s Palmiet Pumping System have been isolated due to critically low levels.

This action from Rand Water will continue until their system recovers. This implies that Tshwane reservoirs are currently not receiving any flow from Rand Water. As a result, the following Tshwane reservoirs are running critically low to empty:

• Akasia Reservoir: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-JR, Chantelle (all extensions), Florauna, Hartbeeshoek (all extensions), Heatherdale AH, Heatherview (all extensions), Ninapark (all extensions), Plantland 567-JR, Witfontein 301-JR and Zandfontein 317-JR
• Atteridgeville HL Reservoir: Kalafong Heights and parts of Saulsville
• Bakenkop Reservoir: Brakfontein 399-JR, Celtisdal (all extensions), Clubview (all extensions), Cranbrookvale, Eldoraigne (all extensions), Hennopspark (all extensions), Lyttelton 381-JR, Lyttelton AH, Raslouw AH, Rooihuiskraal Noord (all extensions), Swartkop 383-JR, Tamara Park, Villarosa, Wierdapark and Zwartkop 356-JR

• Blair Athol Reservoir: Blair Athol (all extensions), Monaghan (all extensions), Rietfontein 532-JQ, Riverside Estate 497-JQ and Vlakfontein 494-JQ

• Brakfontein Reservoir: Brakfontein 390-JR, Bronberrick, Clubview Ext 78, Cranbrookvale, Eldoraigne (all extensions), Hennopspark (all extensions), Lyttelton 381-JR, Simarlo AH, Verwoerdburgstad and Zwartkop (all extensions)

• Carina Street Reservoir: Alphenpark, Erasmusrand, Garsfontein 374-JR, Groenkloof 358-JR, Monumentpark (all extensions), Sterrewag, Waterkloof (all extensions), Waterkloof Heights (all extensions), Waterkloof Park and Waterkloof Ridge (all extensions)

• Corobrick Plant Reservoir: Grootfontein 394-JR, Mooikloof Manor Ext 2, Rietfontein 375-JR, Rietfontein Ridge Ext 11, Rietvallei 377-JR, The Hills (all extensions), Tiegerpoort 371-JR and Zwavelpoort 373-JR

• Erasmia Reservoir: Christoburg, Erasmia (all extensions), Erasmia 350-JR, Hoekplaats 384-JR, Lekkerhoekie 411-JR and 450-JR, Mooiplaats 355-JR and Sunderland Ridge (all extensions)

• Hatherley Meter: Nellmapius (all extensions)

• Klapperkop Reservoir: Arcadia, Blackmoor 347-JR, Bryntirion, Capital Park (all extensions), Daspoort 319-JR, Deerness, Eastclyffe, Eastwood, Eloff Estate 320-JR, Gezina, Groenkloof, Kilberry, Lisdogan Park, Lynnwood, Monumentpark (all extensions), Pretoria Town and Townlands 351-JR, Prinshof 349-JR, Rietfontein, Riviera, Scientia 416-JR and 626-JR, Sterrewag, Transpark 639-JR and Waterkloof 378-JR

• Kosmosdal Connection: Olievenhoutbosch (all extensions)

• Laudium Reservoir: Christoburg, Claudius, Erasmia, Laudium (all extensions), Mooiplaats 355-JR and Pretoria Town and Townlands 351-JR

• Lotus Gardens Reservoir: Fort 646-JR, Fort West (all extensions), Lotus Gardens (all extensions) and Pretoria Town and Townlands 351-JR

• Louwlardia Reservoir: Blue Hills (all extensions), Brakfontein 390-JR and 409-JR, Country View (all extensions), Highveld (all extensions), Kosmosdal (all extensions), Louwlardia (all extensions), Midstream Estate (all extensions), Olievenhoutbosch 389-JR, Olifantsfontein 410-JR, Randjesfontein 405-JR, Randjespark Ext 121, Rooihuiskraal (all extensions) and The Reeds (all extensions)

• Mabopane Reservoir: Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane (all extensions), Rietgat 105-JR, Soshanguve (all extensions), Tswaing 149-JR and Winterveldt

• Magaliesberg Reservoir: Amandasig (all extensions), Beetgesberg 279-JR, Chantelle (all extensions), Clarina (all extensions), Eldorette 311-JR, Haakdoornboom 276-JR, Hartbeeshoek 251-JR, Hartebeesthoek 303-JR, Hermon 289-JR, Karenpark (all extensions), Klerksoord (all extensions), Moloto, Rosslyn (all extensions), The Orchards (all extensions) and Witfontein 301-JR and 305-JR 

• Mnandi Reservoir: Acsionville 784-JR, Brakfontein 399-JR, Doornrandje 386-JR, Gerardsville AH and Ext 1, Hennopsrivier 489-JQ, Heuweloord Ext 3, 14, 17, 18 and 19, Hoekplaats 384-JR, Honeypark 437-JR, Knopjeslaagte 385-JR, Mnandi AH and Ext 1, Monavoni, Monavoni AH, Mooiplaats 355-JR, Olievenhoutbosch 389-JR, Peach Tree, Raslouw Ext 11, Stukgrond 382-JR, Sunderland Ridge Ext 22 and 23, Swartkop 383-JR and Vlakplaats 354-JR 

• Raslouw Reservoir: Celtisdal (all extensions), Deltoidia AH, Eldoraigne (all extensions), Lekkerhoekie 411-JR, Monavoni Ext 65, Monrick AH, Raslouw (all extensions), Sunderland Ridge and Swartkop 383-JR

• Rooihuiskraal Reservoir: Brakfontein 390-JR, 399-JR and 419-JR, Celtisdal (all extensions), Hennopspark (all extensions), Heuweloord (all extensions), Kosmosdal (all extensions), Monavoni AH, Olievenhoutbosch, Rooihuiskraal (all extensions), Rooihuiskraal Noord (all extensions), The Reeds (all extensions) and Wierdapark (all extensions)

• Saulsville Reservoir: Saulsville 

• Soshanguve DD Reservoir: Bultfontein 107-JR, Klippan 102-JR, Mabopane Unit CV, New Eersterus, Soshanguve (all extensions), Sterkwater 106-JR, Stinkwater and Zoutpan 104-JR

• Soshanguve L Reservoir: De Beers, Kopanong (all extensions), Kruisfontein 359-JR and 262-JR, Onderstepoort 266-JR, Onderstepoort (all extensions), Rietgat 611-JR and Wentzelrust 223-JR

• Sunderland Ridge Reservoir: Lekkerhoekie 350-JR, Mooiplaats 355-JR, Sunderland Ridge (all extensions) and Zwartkop 356-JR

• Wonderboom Reservoir: Amalinda 643-JR, Annlin (all extensions), Annlin West, Bon Accord, De Onderstepoort, Doornpoort, Dorandia (all extensions), Florauna (all extensions), Grootvlei 272-JR, Haakdoornfontein 119-JR, Haakdoornlaagte 277-JR, Hartebeestfontein 324-JR, Hesteapark Ext 28, Honingnestkrans 269-JR, Kenley AH, Kromdraai 115-JR and 728-JR, Lusthof 114-JR, Magalieskruin (all extensions), Montana (all extensions), Montana AH, Mont Lorraine AH, Murrayhill 275-JR, Ninapark, Onderstepoort (all extensions), Pretoria North, Pylpunt, Pyramid, Rondavel Alias Skoongezicht 109-JR, Rooiwal 270-JR, Sinoville, Theresapark (all extensions), Tileba, Wallmannsthal 278-JR, Waterval 273-JR, Witfontein 301-JR, Wolmer, Wonderboom (all extensions) and Wonderboom South

It is important to highlight that the thunderstorm and power failure incidents occurred while the City’s and mainly Rand Water’s systems were under severe strain due to high water consumption, which exacerbates the situation.

The City urges residents to adopt water-saving measures to reduce high water consumption and avoid a total collapse of the system.

WATER-SAVING TIPS

Residents are urged to keep using grey water to water gardens and flush toilets. Residents should report water leaks, burst pipes and all incidents where water is wasted. Where possible, water-saving devices should be installed.

Furthermore, residents should make water conservation part of their everyday lives by making use of the following water-saving tips:

• Install a low-flow shower head and tap aerators where possible.
• Use a dual-flush toilet cistern.
• Plant indigenous or drought-resistant shrubs in the garden.
• Do not water or irrigate gardens with hosepipes or sprinkler systems between 06:00 and 18:00.
• Do not wash vehicles with hosepipes.
• Do not fill swimming pools.
• Use a broom instead of a hosepipe when cleaning driveways or patios.
• Collect rainwater to reuse in the garden or wash the car.
• Cover the swimming pool to reduce water evaporation.
• Take a shower rather than a bath.
• Close a running tap while brushing teeth or shaving.
• Regularly check toilets and taps for leaks.

Residents can use the following numbers to report water-related incidents: