Eskom power failure results in water outage in certain Tshwane areas

In an unexpected turn of events on Friday, 8 December 2023, Rand Water (RW) faced a complete power failure at their Palmeit Pump Station, disrupting water supply to parts of Tshwane.

The power outage, attributed to Eskom, had a cascading effect on the water distribution infrastructure.

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Which reservoir in Tshwane suffered depletion?

Although power was swiftly restored on the same day, the Brakfontein Reservoir, a vital component of the RW system, suffered depletion, with its level plummeting to 10% this morning.

This dip in reservoir levels posed challenges in adequately supplying the Akasia reservoirs and the Hartebeeshoek Reservoir, which, in turn, feeds the Soshanguve L Reservoirs.

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As a consequence, the Akasia Reservoir now stands empty. While the Hartebeeshoek and Soshanguve L Reservoirs have reached critically low levels. The looming threat of water scarcity becomes more pronounced. With the Soshanguve L Reservoirs at risk of running dry if the current high water consumption persists.

Residents in affected areas, particularly Soshanguve and surrounding regions, are urged to exercise water conservation measures.

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Authorities have appealed to the community to use water judiciously, sparingly, and only when absolutely necessary. The plea extends to minimising water consumption to facilitate the recovery and stabilization of the strained water supply system.

Residents urged to cooperate with the City’s efforts to reduce water consumption

In the face of the ongoing water crisis, residents are called upon to cooperate with the City’s efforts to reduce water consumption. Failure to do so could exacerbate the situation. Leading to more reservoirs running dry and leaving additional areas without water.

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“Residents are requested to please cooperate with the City to reduce their water consumption in an effort to and end the current water outages,” said the City of Tshwane.

The City emphasises the importance of collective action. And also responsible water use to mitigate the impact of this unforeseen incident.

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