Joburg Water pilots borehole system at selected informal settlements

Joburg Water said that it loses 33% of its water volumes mainly to illegal connections at informal settlements and water leaks.

In response to the crisis causing persistent water outages around the city, the utility is piloting a borehole system at selected informal settlements.

On Tuesday, the utility, in partnership with Wits University, unveiled the system at the Water Works informal settlement in the south of Joburg, where drilling has begun.

The settlement is one of nine that will be getting a borehole, including other areas such as Lenasia and Soweto. 

Joburg Water said that this will help with losses of water and help reservoirs recover at the rate that they should, and ultimately supplying water regularly.

Joburg Water managing director, Ntshavheni Mukwevho, said that this informal settlement had been given tankers to get them to stop connecting illegally.

"The losses that happen, which is about 33% of the volume that we supply in informal settlements, the illegal connections, they contribute a lot. The issue there that worries us, is that when that theft happens, it disturbs the systems."

However, resident, Keletso Mbele, said that they also had issues with the tankers.

"At times, the tanks are empty or they don't even come to the community to refill and even when they do come, the water finishes quickly because there are so many people here."

She said that this project had brought hope to the community, knowing their right to water will be protected.