The City of Tshwane has warned that very high water consumption across the city is placing increasing pressure on its water supply system.
In a notice issued on 21 August 2026 by its Communication, Marketing and Events department, the City said water levels in several of its reservoirs and towers have dropped significantly in recent weeks. The high demand is making it difficult for storage facilities to recover to healthy levels.
The City said in some areas, water consumption is exceeding the amount of water it is able to supply. This has resulted in the City drawing more water from Rand Water than its licensed allocation, placing additional pressure on both the City’s distribution network and Rand Water’s supply system.
The City said the situation is expected to worsen as the warmer spring season approaches and demand is expected to increase.
Customers are therefore urged to reduce their water use and avoid unnecessary consumption. The City warned that if the current high consumption continues, customers may experience low water pressure and prolonged water supply interruptions.
In its advisory, the City urged residents to avoid watering gardens with hosepipes or sprinklers between 06:00 and 18:00, washing vehicles with hosepipes, or filling swimming pools. It also advised residents to reuse grey water for gardens and flushing toilets and collect rainwater where possible, use water wisely by taking showers instead of baths, closing taps while brushing teeth or shaving, and using a broom rather than a hosepipe to clean outdoor areas.
Residents were further urged to reduce water loss by regularly checking for leaks, reporting burst pipes and water wastage and installing water-saving devices where possible, and to make gardens and pools water-efficient by planting indigenous or drought-resistant plants and covering swimming pools to reduce evaporation.
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