Johannesburg, South Africa, has multiple areas experiencing water cuts, with the water supply system being restricted to only 14 hours per day.

On September 14th, the Department of Water and Sanitation of the largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg, announced that starting immediately, there will be daily 14-hour water restrictions in place for municipal reservoirs and water towers to cope with increasing water supply pressures. The affected areas include the city center and several other water supply systems. Currently, some communities are experiencing complete water shortages, and the northern suburbs are also without water due to burst pipes. The water department has not provided a timeline for restoring water supply but has mentioned that water trucks will be dispatched to alleviate residents' daily needs and has called on the public to conserve water. Experts point out that Johannesburg's water supply issues are not isolated incidents. In recent years, with population growth and urban expansion, the demand for water has been steadily increasing, while the aging infrastructure has lacked investment and updates, leading to severe leaks. Research shows that a large amount of treated water in the city is wasted or lost during transportation. Additionally, climate change with high temperatures causing evaporation and unstable rainfall patterns has exacerbated water scarcity.