eMalahleni water outages today (11 November 2026): affected areas, causes and when water returns
A flooded pump station forced eMalahleni to shut its Witbank water treatment plant. Points A, B, C and E reservoirs are affected, full supply could take up to 24 hours, and a separate power fault hits several areas.
Large parts of Witbank in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga, have had water and power problems since Tuesday after a flooded pump station forced the Emalahleni Local Municipality to shut down its water treatment plant for emergency repairs (Witbank News).
Pumping was expected to restart at 07:00 on Wednesday, 11 November, but the municipality says full supply could take up to 24 hours to stabilise because reservoirs are depleted. A separate electricity fault is also affecting several Witbank areas (Witbank News).
Which areas are affected?
| Service | Areas affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Areas supplied by the Point A, Point B, Point C and Point E reservoirs in Witbank | Point D Command Bulk Water Distribution Pump Station flooded |
| Electricity | Witbank Dam, N4 Business Park, Witbank Ext 5, Ext 16 and part of Ext 41 | Feeder faults at Doornpoort Substation |
Source: Emalahleni Local Municipality emergency notices, as reported by Witbank News.
Why is there no water in Witbank?
The municipality says the Point D Command Bulk Water Distribution Pump Station flooded on Tuesday, 10 November. As a precaution, technicians shut down both the Witbank Water Treatment Plant and the Raw Water Pump Station to do urgent repairs (Witbank News).
The heatwave hitting the province this week adds pressure on supply, so reservoirs may take longer to refill.
When will water come back?
| Step | Official timing |
|---|---|
| Pumping resumes | Expected by 07:00 on 11 November |
| Water reaches taps | About three hours after pumping restarts |
| Full system stable | Up to 24 hours, because reservoir levels are low |
Higher-lying areas and the end of the supply network usually get water back last. The municipality had not published a newer update by 17:00 SAST on 11 November.
When will power be restored?
No restoration time has been given. The municipality says the electrical repairs are a high priority while teams find and fix the feeder faults at Doornpoort Substation (Witbank News).
What should residents do?
- Use water sparingly and store enough for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene, as the municipality asks (Witbank News).
- Keep taps closed when supply is off, so water isn't wasted when it returns.
- If water comes back discoloured, let it run briefly before using it.
- Switch off major appliances during the power outage to protect them when supply returns.
Who do I contact?
| Emalahleni Local Municipality call centre |
|---|
| 013 690 6222 |
| 013 690 6333 |
| 013 690 6444 |
Ask for a reference number when you report a fault (Witbank News).
FAQ
Why is there no water in Witbank today?
The Point D Command Bulk Water Distribution Pump Station flooded, so the municipality shut down the Witbank Water Treatment Plant and Raw Water Pump Station for urgent repairs.
When will water be back in eMalahleni?
Pumping was expected to resume by 07:00 on 11 November, with water reaching taps about three hours later. Full supply could take up to 24 hours to stabilise.
How do I report an outage in eMalahleni?
Call the Emalahleni Local Municipality call centre on 013 690 6222, 013 690 6333 or 013 690 6444.