The water supply problem affecting three hospitals in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni have not yet been resolved, with the facilities relying on boreholes and roving water tankers, according to Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.
Modiba told News24 that water supply at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital was still intermittent but it was relying on its borehole as well as tankers from Johannesburg Water, while Helen Joseph Hospital currently had good water pressure and was receiving water “from an alternative line through the Brixton tower”.
Pholosong Hospital in Ekurhuleni started receiving water from the municipal supply on Monday, but the facility does not yet have maximum water pressure, so water tankers are augmenting this.
Modiba said interruptions at the three hospitals were caused by “various challenges by water utilities, Rand Water and Jo’burg Water, and the respective municipalities”.
“The health facilities have reservoirs, and some also have boreholes but the system becomes strained when interruptions are prolonged,” said Modiba.
Helen Joseph had three water tanks with a total capacity of 260 000 litres, and a borehole that can pump 8 000 litres of water per hour intermittently.
“The facility has already identified a site for a new reservoir with a capacity for one mega (million) litre.”
Rahima Moosa has two boreholes that can pump 13 000 litres of water and two reservoirs with a capacity of 120 000 litres and 400 000 litres, respectively.
Pholosong Hospital had two reservoirs with capacities of 100 000 and 60 000 litres.
“The facility is currently installing an additional reservoir with a capacity of 500 000 litres to be completed by the end of October.”
Johannesburg’s water reticulation has been under pressure recently, with Rand Water, which provides most of the water to the city’s residents, issuing a statement on the weekend blaming residents for low water pressure or no water at all in several major areas.
According to the statement, high consumption was keeping reservoir levels low to empty.
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