​The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) would like to confirm that water supply to three of its hospitals in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni has stabilised over the weekend even though the supply problem is not yet completely resolved.

Water supply at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH) is still intermittent and the facility is relying on roving water tankers from Joburg Water and its borehole. The clinical areas continue to render services to patients. 

Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH) currently has good water pressure. They are fed from an alternative line through the Brixton tower. The situation improved over the weekend after the facility experienced challenges in the past week where water tankers had to be deployed. 

Pholosong Hospital in Ekurhuleni started receiving water from the municipal supply line this morning (Monday, 18 September). However, the facility is not yet receiving full water pressure. The City of Ekurhuleni has since deployed roving water tankers to augment the supply from service providers directly contracted by the hospital. 

The water supply interruptions in the three facilities are due to various challenges experienced by water utilities, Rand Water and Joburg Water, and the respective municipalities. 

GDoH facilities have reservoirs and some also have boreholes as part of the back-up system when there are supply disruptions. However, the system become strained when the interruptions are prolonged. 

The HJH has capacity of 3 water tanks with a total capacity of 260 000 litres and a borehole which can pump 8000 litres of water per hour intermittently. The facility has already identified a site for a new reservoir with a capacity for 1 mega (million) litres. 

RMMCH has 2 boreholes which can pump 13 000 litres of water and 2 reservoirs with a capacity of 120 000 litres and 400 000 litres respectively. 

Pholosong Hospital has two reservoirs of 100 000 and 60 000 litres. The facility is currently erecting an additional reservoir with a capacity of 500 000 litres to be completed by end of October 2023 increasing total capacity to 660 000 litres. 

The department will continue working with all the relevant stakeholders to improve its capacity and infrastructure to ensure that health service continue to be rendered even when there are service interruptions. 

Ends/ 

Issued by the Gauteng Department of Health