Residents in Atteridgeville, Saulsville and Laudium are being urged to prepare for a planned 12-hour water supply interruption on Friday, 17 July, as Rand Water and Eskom undertake scheduled maintenance aimed at improving the reliability of the region’s water infrastructure.
The maintenance forms part of Phase 2 of planned work on the Palmiet and Mapleton water systems and is scheduled to take place from 08:00 until 20:00.
The City of Tshwane has confirmed that Region 3, which includes Atteridgeville, Saulsville and Laudium, will be among the areas affected by the temporary water interruption. Residents are encouraged to make the necessary preparations by storing enough water for drinking, cooking, sanitation and other essential household needs before the interruption begins.
According to information released by the City, no water will be pumped to the Mapleton System during the 12-hour maintenance period, while the Palmiet System will continue operating at approximately 78% capacity. The reduced pumping is expected to affect water availability across several parts of Tshwane, including communities in Region 3.
The City has advised residents that although maintenance is expected to be completed by 20:00, water may not return immediately thereafter. Reservoirs and pipelines will need time to refill and water pressure is expected to recover gradually, meaning some areas could experience delays before supply is fully restored.
Residents are encouraged to use stored water sparingly during the interruption and avoid unnecessary consumption. Households are also advised to fill containers with enough water in advance to meet basic needs throughout the day.
Some residents in Atteridgeville and Laudium expressed concern over the planned interruption, saying prolonged water outages often disrupt daily life and place additional pressure on households and small businesses.
“I understand that maintenance has to be done, but I hope the City sticks to the announced times because unexpected delays make it difficult for families to plan,” said Atteridgeville resident Siyanda Khumalo.
Laudium resident Luyanda Ndlovu who is also a student at Little Manhattan Res said residents have become more proactive whenever planned maintenance is announced.
“We’ve learnt to store water in advance because you never know how long it will take for the pressure to return after maintenance is completed,” he said.
The City has encouraged residents to monitor its official communication platforms for updates regarding the planned maintenance and the restoration of water services.
Attempts to obtain additional information from the City of Tshwane seeking additional comment on the impact of the planned maintenance on Region 3 and contingency measures for affected communities. However, no response had been received.
