Phoenix water crisis: Residents could face six more years of daily water outages

Phoenix residents may endure daily water outages for another six years while a major water project is completed in 2032, according to eThekwini Municipality. The municipality is repairing infrastructure and managing limited supply in the meantime. The Upper uMkhomazi Water Project, a R30-billion initiative, aims to supplement the existing water supply but will not be completed until then.

Until then, residents in Phoenix wards 48 to 52 remain dependent on an overstretched system that switches off every afternoon and returns the next morning. The water supply is managed to prevent reservoirs from draining completely, which could cause longer outages and damage infrastructure. The municipality has acknowledged that increasing water to Phoenix's reservoirs has not made a significant difference.

They are working to identify and repair leaks and defective or vandalised air valves to improve the existing infrastructure's performance. The city is committed to providing sufficient water to residents while implementing the long-term project. However, community leaders and residents have criticized the lack of communication and the prolonged disruptions.

With local government elections approaching, there is concern about the impact on councillors and the urgency of addressing the crisis.