Gauteng

Photo: Stock/Canva

Gauteng hospitals on high alert as water interruptions begin

Gauteng Department of Health has put some contingency plans to ensure hospitals are not adversely affected by planned water interruptions.

Gauteng

Photo: Stock/Canva

The Gauteng Department of Health said it was on high alert on Monday following notice of planned water interruptions due to maintenance by Rand Water.

NO REPORTED WATER INTERRUPTIONS AT HOSPITALS YET

The water interruptions which began on Monday would continue until Wednesday.

Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana said despite no reported water interruptions in health facilities on Monday, the department continues to monitor the situation across its facilities.

“The Department of Health together with Joburg Water have put some contingency plans in place to ensure health facilities in the municipal area are not adversely affected by the planned water interruptions that started this morning,” she said.

ALSO READ: Water shutdown: Soweto and Johannesburg CBD among affected areas

WHAT IS THE PLAN OF ACTION?

Kekana said water tankers and mobile toilets had been deployed by Joburg Water in various health facilities, such as Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Bheki Mlangeni District Hospital and Helen Joseph Hospital among others.

“This is in addition to existing reservoir resources in the various health facilities that fall in the affected areas of the planned water interruption. Facility managers have also put plans in place to ensure there is minimised use of water in non-essential areas,” said Kekana.

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE WATER INTERRUPTION

This comes as the City of Johannesburg, Rand Water – the City’s bulk water supplier – said it would be working on their raw water pipe, which supplies the Vereeniging water purification plant.

The purification plant will be out of action on 15 November from 5:00 for a period of 54 hours (if everything goes according to plan, the water supply should return to normal at 11:00 on Wednesday, 17 November).

The City said the planned maintenance would have an impact on water supply from the Rand Water Eikenhof pump station to the South of Johannesburg, the Northern and Western areas, and the CBD.

The water supply to these areas in Gauteng will be reduced by 25 percent.

Meanwhile, the water supply from the Rand Water Swaartkoppies system to the central CBD is also expected to be reduced by 50 percent.

“Water supply reduction will result in poor to no water supply during peak demand periods in most high-lying and high demand areas,” said the City of Johannesburg.

WILL YOU BE AFFECTED?

Stationary and roaming water tankers will be available to residents around Gauteng. The City said they will be positioned “where feasible to reduce the impact to customers.”

Click here to see what suburbs will be affected.