Johannesburg residents in parts of Sandton, Midrand, Soweto, Randburg, Lenasia and the inner city may experience low water pressure or a water shutdown or 12 hours on Friday, 17 July 2026. Rand Water is scheduled to conduct the second and final phase of planned maintenance between 07:00 and 19:00.
Johannesburg Water said the work will affect customers supplied through the Palmiet, Zwartkopjes and Eikenhof systems. While the maintenance window is set for one day, the utility warned that water supply and pressure may take several days to stabilise fully in some areas.
Residents are being urged to store enough water for essential household use before the work begins.
ALSO READ: Load Reduction Schedule Gauteng 2026: Latest Eskom and City Power Updates
Maintenance scheduled for 17 July
According to Johannesburg Water, bulk supplier Rand Water will carry out the planned maintenance from 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday, 17 July.
The work is linked to Eskom-related maintenance at Rand Water’s Zuikerbosch plant and forms part of a wider planned maintenance programme.
Johannesburg Water said the first phase of the programme was completed between 29 May and 2 June 2026. The 17 July work is expected to be the second and final phase.
The utility said the impact will differ between suburbs and supply zones. Some households may experience reduced pressure, while others may have no water for part or all of the maintenance period.
Water Shutdown: Areas expected to be affected
Johannesburg Water said customers supplied through several systems could be affected during the maintenance period.
Areas listed by the utility include:
- Sandton
- Randjieslaagte
- Midrand
- Linksfield
- South Hills
- Crown Gardens
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Soweto
- Lenasia
- Parktown
- Yeoville
- Berea-Parktown
- Alan Manor
- Aeroton
- Eagles Nest
The Commando system is also expected to be affected. This includes parts of:
- Brixton
- Crosby
- Hurst Hill
The CBD systems expected to experience disruptions include Yeoville, Berea-Parktown, Alan Manor, Aeroton and Eagles Nest.
Johannesburg Water said residents in these supply areas should expect low pressure to no water while maintenance is underway.
Palmiet, Zwartkopjes and Eikenhof systems affected
The planned work will affect supply from the Palmiet, Zwartkopjes and Eikenhof systems.
Johannesburg Water said Palmiet will continue operating at about 78% capacity during the maintenance period. This is equal to approximately 1,600 megalitres a day.
Zwartkopjes is expected to operate at 50% capacity, supplying about 300 megalitres a day. Eikenhof will also operate at 50% capacity, with an expected supply of 600 megalitres a day.
Daleside is expected to continue pumping at full capacity during the work.
However, reduced output from the affected systems can still result in lower pressure at reservoirs and in neighbourhoods supplied through those networks. Areas at higher elevations or further from reservoirs may take longer to recover once maintenance is complete.
Why water pressure may take days to return
The maintenance itself is scheduled to last 12 hours, but Johannesburg Water said recovery is not expected to be immediate across every affected area.
Once work has been completed, water systems need time to refill reservoirs, restore pressure and stabilise supply across the network. This process can take longer in areas that are supplied through multiple reservoirs or that sit at higher points in the network.
A household may therefore experience water returning gradually rather than all at once. Pressure may also fluctuate during the recovery period.
Johannesburg Water said it will issue updates while the maintenance is under way and as supply recovers.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
The planned maintenance will affect a large part of Johannesburg’s water network, including residential areas, business districts and parts of the inner city.
For residents, the immediate impact may include low pressure, empty taps or interrupted water supply from the morning of 17 July. Schools, businesses, restaurants, healthcare facilities and other institutions in affected areas may also need to manage reduced water availability during the day.
The disruption is planned rather than an emergency shutdown. Johannesburg Water has asked households to store water ahead of time for drinking, cooking, hygiene and other essential use.
Residents should also be aware that a return of water supply after 19:00 does not necessarily mean normal pressure will be restored immediately. Some areas may experience a longer recovery period.
How households can prepare for the maintenance
Johannesburg Water has encouraged residents to store enough water for essential household use before the shutdown begins.
Useful preparations may include:
- Filling clean containers with drinking water.
- Keeping water aside for cooking and basic hygiene.
- Avoiding unnecessary laundry, dishwashing and other high-water activities before the maintenance period.
- Checking whether a complex, school, workplace or business has its own water-storage arrangements.
- Following official Johannesburg Water updates for changes to the schedule or recovery timeline.
Residents should use stored water carefully, as pressure recovery may take longer than expected in some areas.
FAQ: Johannesburg Water maintenance on 17 July
When will the maintenance take place?
Rand Water is scheduled to conduct maintenance from 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Will all affected areas have no water?
Not necessarily. Johannesburg Water said some areas may experience low pressure, while others may have no water during the maintenance period.
Which Johannesburg areas are affected?
Affected supply areas include parts of Sandton, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort, Soweto, Lenasia, Parktown, Linksfield, South Hills, Crown Gardens and the Johannesburg CBD systems.
Why is the maintenance being done?
The work forms part of Rand Water’s planned maintenance programme and is linked to Eskom-related maintenance at the Zuikerbosch plant.
How long will it take for water to return?
The shutdown is scheduled for 12 hours, but Johannesburg Water said full recovery may take several days in some areas as reservoirs refill and pressure stabilises.
What happens next
Johannesburg Water is expected to provide updates before and during the maintenance period, including information on supply recovery in affected systems.
The utility has advised residents to prepare ahead of Friday, 17 July, and to monitor official updates as work progresses.
