Gauteng urges water conservation as reservoir levels fall, but activists dispute cause

The Gauteng provincial government has urged residents and businesses to use water sparingly as rising temperatures push up consumption across the province, with reservoir and tower storage levels declining even though pumping systems are operating at or near full capacity.

Provincial government spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the province's three metropolitan municipalities – Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni – together use approximately 70% of the water supplied by bulk provider Rand Water, and that rising demand was outpacing the system's ability to keep up. He said the increased demand being experienced by municipalities was placing significant pressure on Gauteng's water supply system.

Mhlanga urged businesses and residents to take practical steps to conserve water, including repairing leaking taps and pipes, taking shorter showers, using water-efficient appliances where possible, avoiding hosing down driveways and pavements, and limiting garden watering to essential times. He also reminded residents of their collective responsibility to report water leaks promptly to help prevent further losses.

However, Business Day reported that WaterCAN executive manager and environmental justice activist Ferrial Adam disputed the government's framing of the problem, arguing that the strain on the system was not the result of a sudden spike in consumption but of years of weakening infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.