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An explosion at Africa\u2019s biggest water-treatment plant is curbing supplies in a system that serves more than 11 million people, the latest setback highlighting the decay of infrastructure in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The Tuesday blast at the Zuikerbosch facility, about 70km south of Johannesburg, disrupted bulk supply to parts of Gauteng \u2013 the nation\u2019s richest province \u2013 after a motor connected to one of the pumps in an engine room failed and forced a temporary shutdown, according to Rand Water, the continent\u2019s biggest bulk-water supplier.<\/p>\n
Read:
Johannesburg Water tender awards declared invalid
\u2018No bulk water crisis \u2013 the problem lies downstream\u2019: Rand Water chief
Johannesburg mayor touts new strategy as water crisis grips city<\/p>\n
While supply was partially restored on Tuesday evening, with pumping capacity cut to 75%, suburbs served by three reservoirs in the Palmiet, Eikenhof and Mapleton systems are experiencing low water pressure or temporary outages, Rand Water said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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Palmiet supplies large parts of Johannesburg and the east of Pretoria, while Eikenhof serves Soweto and parts of the old CBD. The Mapleton system feeds the eastern Gauteng towns of Germiston through to Springs.<\/p>\n
Listen\/read: \u2018Leaking bucket of money\u2019: Joburg water crisis laid bare<\/p>\n
The outages are the latest sign of a water supply crisis that\u2019s affecting some of the country\u2019s biggest cities because of inadequate maintenance, limited investment in infrastructure, and poor management.<\/p>\n
Last year, parts of Johannesburg were left without water for weeks after reservoirs struggled to recover from scheduled maintenance and as criminals vandalised a key pipeline.<\/p>\n
Read:
Joburg battles to supply water, but wants to hike tariffs by 14%
SIU finds work paid for but not done on critical water infrastructure
Joburg protesters call for end to water crisis<\/p>\n
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A year earlier, a large section of the city endured an extended outage after a lightning strike affected a major pump station.<\/p>\n
Johannesburg\u2019s water utility has a R26.9 billion infrastructure backlog, municipal documents seen by Bloomberg in 2024 showed.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a02026\u00a0Bloomberg<\/p>\n
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