The organization WaterCan has attributed Gauteng’s water problems to infrastructure failures in the province. This comes after Rand Water, the bulk water supplier, warned municipalities to cut water losses by 33% due to decreasing storage levels. Rand Water has reported that supply systems, including its reservoirs, are critically low, and the situation is expected to worsen due to the ongoing heatwave.
Some residents in Johannesburg suburbs have experienced water shortages. Dr. Ferrial Adam, Executive Manager of WaterCan, highlighted the issue of water losses due to failing infrastructure and insufficient budget allocation for maintenance. In Gauteng, 33% of water is lost, which is significant considering the challenges posed by climate change and a growing population. The increasing water demand has put strain on the system, making it difficult to address all the related issues.