Johannesburg water outages today (28 October 2026): affected areas, causes and when water returns

Update (08:25 SAST, 29 October 2026): Johannesburg Water says reservoirs in Midrand and Sandton are now critically low, with pumping to Grand Central, Erand, Illovo and Bryanston towers affected, and Melville is still on bypass. Today's areas, causes and contact numbers are in our 29 October update.

Parts of Johannesburg are still without reliable water on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Edenburg has an ongoing interruption with no restoration time yet (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct), the Hursthill reservoirs that feed Melville and nearby suburbs are on bypass (Johannesburg Water, 27 Oct), and Johannesburg Water warns that a SAMWU protest shutdown is delaying service requests across the city (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).

Which Johannesburg areas have no water today?

• Edenburg: an ongoing interruption affects Rietfontein Road and River Road, 12th Avenue and Bevan Road, Wessels Road, Stiglingh Road between North Avenue and 12th Avenue, parts of 12th Avenue around Wessels Road, 11th Avenue from Wessels Road downwards, 10th, 6th, 5th, 4th and 3rd Avenues, and Dunton Road (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).
• Commando system (Melville and surrounds): Hursthill 1 and Hursthill 2 reservoirs are on bypass, and Johannesburg Water says poor pressure, intermittent supply or no water may occur in some areas. The Brixton 2 reservoir outlet is closed to build capacity and Brixton 2 tower is not pumping (Johannesburg Water, 27 Oct, 18:55).
• Melville, Emmarentia, Richmond, Greenside, Westdene, Westcliff, Auckland Park and Parktown West: these areas are being supplied via a bypass while structural repairs are done inside the leaking Hursthill 2 reservoir, a project scheduled to run until 15 December 2026 (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).
• Hurlingham (planned): no water on Thursday, 29 October, from 08:00 to 20:00 while new pipes are tied into the system (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).

Melville residents protested on Wednesday morning, saying they had gone eight days without water (Northcliff Melville Times; eNCA). Residents on the ESP app report water in Edenburg and The Point coming back overnight and going off again in the morning (residents' reports, not official) (ESP).

What about Soweto and the Deep South?

At 10:45, every Soweto reservoir and tower was supplying fairly or adequately, with Jabulani Reservoir and Zondi Tower on bypass (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct). At 10:50, all Deep South reservoirs, including Orange Farm, Ennerdale, Lawley and the Lenasia reservoirs, were supplying fairly (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).

Why is the water off in Edenburg?

Johannesburg Water has not found the cause yet. Teams confirmed on Tuesday that all pressure reducing valves are working, and today they are checking every valve in the affected network to make sure it is open and supplying water (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).

How is the SAMWU protest affecting water repairs?

Johannesburg Water says the protest shutdown by the South African Municipal Workers' Union across the city is affecting its operations. Customers will see delays in the resolution of service requests and other service delivery matters while it lasts (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct). The union says the dispute is over unpaid wage benefits owed by the City of Johannesburg (SABC News).

When will water return?

There is no official restoration time for Edenburg. Johannesburg Water says alternative water supply has been arranged for affected residents while investigations continue (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct). No restoration time has been given for the Commando system areas either (Johannesburg Water, 27 Oct).

Separately, residents in Bezuidenhout Valley have been told their tap water is safe to use again (Reported).

What should I do and who do I call?

Store water in clean, sealed containers when supply returns, and only use water from official Johannesburg Water tankers, which is free and must not be sold (Daily Maverick).

Report faults to Johannesburg Water on 0860 056 2874 or 010 061 4470, or email [email protected]. Updates are posted on @JHBWater on X and the Johannesburg Water WhatsApp channel (Johannesburg Water, 28 Oct).