GAUTENG – In a holiday twist that could make even the Grinch green with envy, Johannesburg Water has announced a series of unplanned water outages, threatening to turn Christmas into a dry and not-so-jolly affair for unsuspecting residents.
Starting on Wednesday, December 6, the Grinch—sorry, we mean Johannesburg Water—will target Houghton Estate, specifically 12th Avenue, where water will be as absent as Santa’s sleigh bells between 7 am and 5 pm. The reason? Apparently, they’re connecting a new pipe, because nothing says “festive spirit” like disrupting water flow.
But the Grinch’s watery escapades don’t stop there. On Thursday, December 7, parts of Sandton and surrounding areas will experience a liquid blackout from 7 am to 9 pm. Affected suburbs include Alexandra, Bramley View, Lombardy East and West, Kew, Rembrandt Park, Fairmount, Sandringham, Sydenham, Savoy Estate, Sunningdale, Bramley Gardens, and Wynberg. It’s a Christmas miracle—well, not really—as all streets in these areas will be part of the aquatic vanishing act.
The reason for this festive water famine? The Grinch, oops, we mean Johannesburg Water, is tying a new 110m pipe to the existing 250mm mainline. Because nothing says “happy holidays” like leaving residents high and dry while the waterworks get a facelift.
Will Christmas be saved, or will the Grinch succeed in stealing the city’s water supply? Residents are left to wonder as they stock up on bottled water and practice their rain dances, hoping for a liquid Christmas miracle.
Read more on The South African.