While the National Water and Sanitation Indaba prepares to take place to find solutions to water shortages across the country, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero defended his city, saying it does not have water shortages but rather facing infrastructure leaks.
The Indaba will be held at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg on Thursday and Friday.
Briefing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Morero revealed that the city has identified several leaks in some parts and was working on the installation of "noise lockers" to help address this issue.
“Turning to our water infrastructure, Johannesburg Water continues to focus on improving the City's water supply and management systems. One of our key initiatives is the Advanced Leak Detection Programme.
“This programme involves the deployment of noise lockers, which are embedded in pipelines to detect water leaks by identifying unusual noises in the system. As of January 2025, 125 noise lockers have been installed across the Central, Randburg, and Roodepoort regions, with more to follow.
“By the end of April 2025, we expect to have completed the commissioning of these lockers and will install an additional 400 by June 2025,” he said.
In addition to leak detection, Morero said Johannesburg Water was also focusing on pressure management to reduce water loss and ensure the efficient distribution of water throughout the city.
As of December 2024, 12 pressure-reducing valves (PRVs) were retrofitted with smart controllers, with a total of 27 already installed.
An additional 100 PRVs will be retrofitted by June 2025, he stated.
“These initiatives are crucial in ensuring the long-term sustainability of our water supply and reducing wastage. Given the vulnerability of these components to theft and vandalism, we are also focusing on securing them with locks and proper enclosures,” he added.
Johannesburg has been battling water shortages which led to protests across the regions. There have also been power outages that led to the failure of many pumping stations.
He assured the residents that they were hard at work to fix the problems. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the Water Indaba on Thursday.
This crucial gathering is aimed at tackling South Africa’s water security challenges and ensuring reliable, sustainable water and sanitation services for all citizens.
The timing also underscores the urgency of addressing water and sanitation challenges to uphold the dignity and wellbeing of all South Africans.
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