Faizel Patel – 01/06/2021
A member from the Auckland Park Residents Association says the community is being plagued by water shortages and the situation is now reaching critical point.
Jonathan Thompson was speaking to Radio Islam on Monday about the current water crisis in Auckland Park which has also affected Crosby, Pageview and Hursthill among other areas.
One resident told Radio Islam that despite having two reservoirs, the area is very often without water, sometimes for up to three days, adding that the situation is posing a health risk especially during COVID-19.
Thompson says the current water crisis has become frustrating for residents who want the problem resolved.
“In certain areas it’s been coming and going. During the evening, the water pressure is soft and then during the day it just vanishes into thin air. But in this last recent couple of months it’s just been so severe that unfortunately that without water there is no life, you can’t cook, you can’t clean, you can’t do anything.”
Thompson says the water crisis has been exacerbated by ageing infrastructure that has not been upgraded or maintained.
“Unfortunately theses reservoirs were built in 1930/1940 and they were only designed for x amount of capacity. From when they were built to now, the areas have expanded so much that unfortunately the demand is just outstripping the supply.”
Thompson says long-term goals by the Johannesburg and Rand Water must include the upgrading of the water system while he says the short-terms plans by officials should include installing back-up generators at main pumping stations.
Listen to the interview with Jonathan Thompson
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