Water: '2025 will be worse'

WARNING: MASSIVE MAINTENANCE BACKLOG LOOMS

- Enkosi Selane

Johannesburg has faced a tsunami of water issues this year and an expert predicts these are likely to spill over to 2025, causing a larger crisis.

Among the issues are severe infrastructure challenges and critical water shortages pushing the city's water system to its limits.

Gauteng has imposed level 1 water restrictions and Joburg Water announced the implementation of associated tariffs earlier this month, stressing the gravity of the situation.

"Joburg Water needs serious scrutiny and possibly intervention by the provincial or national government," warned water expert Carin Bosman.

"It has been months during which they have been struggling to complete even the most basic of maintenance, which have left entire communities without uninterrupted water supply," Bosman said.

The scale of the infrastructure crisis is staggering. A comprehensive survey of the city's water network revealed 22 reservoirs leaking beyond acceptable rates.