WaterCAN calls for public review of Johannesburg Water recovery process

By Johnathan Paoli

Civil society organisation WaterCAN has called for a public review of Johannesburg’s recent water recovery process following Rand Water’s maintenance programme, arguing that residents deserve clear answers about why parts of the city endured prolonged supply disruptions and what lessons have been learned before the next planned shutdown in July.

The call comes as communities supplied by Johannesburg Water’s Commando system continue to grapple with the aftermath of maintenance-related outages that left some residents without reliable water for days after the work was completed.

WaterCAN Executive Director Dr Ferrial Adam said the focus should now shift from the maintenance itself to understanding what happened during the recovery phase and ensuring similar problems are avoided in future.

“We know that maintenance can result in temporary disruptions. What residents need to understand is why recovery has taken so long in some areas and what is being done to prevent