Johannesburg water outages today (2 November 2026): affected areas, causes and when water returns

Update (15:40 SAST, 2 November 2026): Johannesburg's overall water storage has improved to 41%, up from 37% on Sunday, Johannesburg Water said after a media briefing with Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Mayor Dada Morero (Johannesburg Water). Throttling has been lifted in the affected Soweto and southern areas, and Crown Gardens Reservoir and Tower are supplying (Johannesburg Water). Sandton storage is up from 27% to about 37% and Erand Reservoir is at 35%, helping parts of Midrand (Johannesburg Water). Brixton Reservoir 1 is at 91%, Yeoville is above 40%, Berea is above 60% and supply is back in most of Alexandra Park (Johannesburg Water).

Residents are asked to keep using water sparingly while recovery continues. No full restoration time has been given (Johannesburg Water).

Johannesburg's water crisis is in its second week on Monday, 2 November 2026. Johannesburg Water says restoration is in progress across parts of the Sandton, Midrand, Randburg/Roodepoort, Commando, Central and Soweto systems, but that improved capacity "does not mean that supply has been fully restored to all affected areas" (The Citizen). On top of that, a burst pipe in Fourways has cut water to Paulshof, Petervale and parts of Rivonia, Edenburg and Bryanston this morning (Johannesburg Water, 10:30). No restoration times have been given.

Which areas lost water this morning?

Johannesburg Water's team is repairing a burst pipe at the corner of Witkoppen Road and Milcliff Road in Fourways, and has closed that section of the pipe. Customers in these areas may have low pressure or no water while repairs are underway (Johannesburg Water, 10:30):

Johannesburg Water says there is no estimated restoration time yet and it will post updates as repairs progress.

Which reservoirs are still low?

These are Johannesburg Water's latest official statuses, posted on Sunday night. Times are SAST.

Johannesburg Water says the Commando system "remains constrained and severely affected" and that recovery is slower because of demand (Commando update). A ward councillor quoted by The Citizen says some residents have gone more than 10 days without water, and lists Bez Valley, Kensington, Observatory and Troyeville among the affected communities (The Citizen).

For Sunday's statuses, see Johannesburg water outages on 1 November 2026.

When will water return?

Johannesburg Water has not given a citywide restoration time. It says restoration will be gradual so reservoirs and towers are not drained again, and that some customers may keep getting low pressure or no water while they recover (The Citizen). It has asked residents to cut their water use by about 15% (Business Day).

Are there planned cuts coming?

Yes. Johannesburg Water's morning notice lists planned work on 10 November 2026 (daily status update):

Melville, Emmarentia, Richmond, Greenside, Westdene, Westcliff, Auckland Park and Parktown West stay on bypass supply while Hursthill 2 Reservoir is repaired, until 15 December 2026.

How do I report a water outage or get a tanker?

Log a call with Johannesburg Water on 0860 056 2874 or 010 061 4470, or email [email protected] (Johannesburg Water). Johannesburg Water says alternative supply may be provided through regional coordination as far as practically possible (Commando update). Updates are posted on X (@JHBWater) and Johannesburg Water's daily water notices page.