Money Desk
Rand Water Warns Gauteng Municipalities Over Excessive Consumption
Rand Water has issued a formal warning to Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Emfuleni, threatening supply cuts due to water consumption exceeding licensed limits.
Rand Water issued a formal warning to Johannesburg, Tshwane and Emfuleni on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, over excessive water consumption, saying it would curtail supply to customers that continued to over-consume. The utility said such action may be necessary to protect the bulk supply system.
“Despite these efforts, persistent high consumption in certain areas continues to undermine the sustainable balance of supply across the network,” Rand Water said.
“Rand Water is duty-bound to protect the bulk supply system and will not hesitate to take appropriate action where necessary,” it added.
Rand Water called on municipalities, households and commercial users to reduce consumption. “Municipalities, residents and businesses are urged to use water responsibly to help ensure a sustainable and equitable supply for all,” it said.
Municipal Water Use Compared
Rand Water’s figures showed that the City of Johannesburg exceeded its licensed allocation by 445 million litres a day, while the City of Tshwane used 42 million litres a day above its allocation.
| Municipality | Daily consumption | Licensed allocation | Excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Johannesburg | 1,801 million litres | 1,356 million litres | 445 million litres |
| City of Tshwane | 794 million litres | 752 million litres | 42 million litres |
City of Johannesburg’s consumption was about 32.8% above its licensed allocation, based on the figures, compared with an excess of about 5.6% for the City of Tshwane.
Together, the two municipalities consumed 2,595 million litres of water per day against combined licensed allocations of 2,108 million litres. Their combined usage was therefore 487 million litres per day above the allocated volume, with the City of Johannesburg accounting for most of that excess.
Emfuleni Exceeds Both Allowances
Emfuleni was consuming more than both its permanent allocation of 239 million litres per day and its temporary allowance of 269 million litres per day, according to Rand Water’s figures. The temporary allowance was 30 million litres per day higher than the permanent allocation, but Emfuleni’s consumption exceeded even that increased limit.
| Municipality | Permanent allocation | Temporary allowance | Daily consumption | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emfuleni | 239 million litres | 269 million litres | Above 269 million litres | Above both allowances |
| City of Ekurhuleni | — | — | 1,005 million litres | Within licensed allocations |
By contrast, the City of Ekurhuleni was drawing 1,005 million litres per day and remained within its licensed water allocations, Rand Water said.
