Bulk water supplier Rand Water is extracting water at the maximum volumes allowed by its Department of Water and Sanitation-issued extraction licence amid high water demand and is left with no option but to take steps “to protect its system from total collapse”.

Despite repeatedly warning municipalities in Gauteng about the potential crisis, water storage levels throughout Gauteng have significantly declined owing to excessive water withdrawals by municipalities.

“We have communicated through letters, held meetings with many municipalities, and engaged in discussions at Gauteng’s Intergovernmental Governance Forum and the Gauteng Water Imbizo,” Rand Water said in a statement.

The crisis Rand Water sought to prevent has now materialised, with water storage soon depleted if municipalities do not implement recommendations, as the utility cannot pump additional water into the system owing to the limitations imposed by the extraction licence.

Raising serious concerns, Rand Water, which, as a bulk water supplier, is not responsible for water distribution within municipalities, has advised municipalities to reduce the physical losses of 33%, as identified in the No Drop report, as well as repair leaks, enforce bylaws, and address illegal connections.

The utility pointed out that the only viable solution to address this issue was through water conservation and demand management, as the critically-low water supply systems in Gauteng, including Rand Water reservoirs, are anticipated to worsen with the ongoing heat wave.

“It is essential to act now to prevent the impending disaster,” Rand Water warned.