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Johannesburg Water proposes tighter level 1 water restrictions

Published

Concrete reservoir wall with calm water under a clear sky.

Johannesburg Water wants to cut demand by about 15% because high use stops reservoirs and towers from recovering. It said level 2 restrictions would be considered if demand keeps rising.

Johannesburg Water said excessive draw-off is causing low pressure, intermittent supply and outages in several parts of the city. The proposed rules include no irrigation between 6am and 6pm.

Areas named include Crosby, Brixton, Parktown, Berea, Yeoville, Bryanston, Illovo, Midrand, Soweto and Deep South.

DA ward 101 councillor Ralf Bittkau said the restrictions are not an agreement between parties. He claimed Johannesburg Water loses 49.8% of its water, and said the accepted international maximum is 19%. He also claimed losses were 42.5% last year.

The ANC Greater Joburg region criticised Rand Water's decision to restrict bulk supply. It said the move could deepen hardship for residents. Regional secretary Sasabona Manganye said the timing, before the local government elections, raises serious questions.

Key facts

Who
Nombuso Shabalala (Spokesperson, Johannesburg Water); Ralf Bittkau (DA ward 101 councillor); Sasabona Manganye (ANC Greater Joburg regional secretary); Johannesburg Water (Water entity warning residents to cut usage)
What
Johannesburg Water warned that high demand and excessive draw-off are preventing reservoirs and towers from recovering, causing low pressure, intermittent supply and outages in several parts of the city. It proposed tighter level 1 water restrictions, including no irrigation between 6am and 6pm, and said level 2 restrictions would be considered if demand keeps rising. DA and ANC figures…
When
2 November 2026
Where
Johannesburg, Crosby, Brixton
Status
Reported

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