Johannesburg Water notes with concern the public statements regarding the groundwater project at the Waterworks community in Region G. These statements intentionally omit facts about the project’s scope, status and regulatory requirements.

Waterworks is but one of nine locations included in Johannesburg Water, Wits Enterprises, and Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) larger Underground Water Augmentation Pilot Project. A total of 39 production and monitoring boreholes have already been drilled  across the nine locations. The project is currently in the final phase of the Water Use License application process with DWS. The full scope of the project is intended to supplement water supply in areas affected by the increasing demand and illegal connections to bulk infrastructure across the city.

Johannesburg Water wishes to clarify that the Waterworks project has not been abandoned, nor has it been stopped because the City of Johannesburg ran out of funds. As the Waterworks area has wetland characteristics, DWS requested a comprehensive wetland assessment report before considering the application. The Entity is legally required to complete this process before the boreholes can be equipped, commissioned and used to supply water.

The approximately R37 million referred to publicly is not the cost of standpipes for one borehole at Waterworks. It relates to planned water-distribution infrastructure across all nine project locations. Comparing this amount with the cost of an independently installed system at a single site is therefore misleading.

Johannesburg Water is deeply concerned that unauthorised parties entered an active municipal project site and interfered with a borehole without the approval and or consultation with the Entity or the City and outside prescribed DWS processes.

Any unauthorised person or organisation that operates, connects to, alters or otherwise interferes with Johannesburg Water infrastructure acts unlawfully. Section 20 of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality Water Services By-laws, 2023 prohibits any person from operating, maintaining, connecting to or interfering with any part of the municipal watersupply system without the City’s prior written authorisation. Section 22 prohibits unauthorised entry onto municipal water-services works.

Accordingly, the completion or commissioning of the Waterworks borehole by an organisation not appointed or authorised by Johannesburg Water may therefore contravene the By-laws, and may expose those responsible to enforcement action, criminal prosecution, and liability for the costs of assessing, securing, and repairing any affected infrastructure.

Any supply of borehole water for domestic use must also comply with the prescribed municipal approvals, applicable water-use authorisations, and drinking-water quality requirements. Private intervention cannot lawfully bypass these safeguards. Johannesburg Water has a legal responsibility to protect municipal infrastructure and ensure that water supplied to residents meets the applicable water-quality, environmental and safety requirements. Claims that the water is safe to drink must be supported by appropriate testing through accredited processes and ongoing monitoring.

Johannesburg Water is assessing the affected infrastructure and will engage DWS and the relevant authorities on the appropriate action.