At the weekend, Rand Water began what it expects to be a 37-day long maintenance programme. This maintenance will run until 29th July and large parts of the Greater Johannesburg area may see taps run dry.

As such, residents may be storing water especially with pumping stations like Eikenhof only operating at 50 percent for most of this week. However, storing water for long periods isn’t as simple as filling up a water bottle and leaving it on the counter until you need it.

The first thing to consider is how much water one needs every day. According to Future Water, healthy South Africans need around 20 litres of water every day just for survival. To be clear, this is potable water and doesn’t consider water for washing cloths, flushing the toilet and other activities.

Now that you know how much water you need, how you store it matters a great deal.

If you are considering storing water in plastic, make sure it’s not in a container made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (DPE) as these are not suitable for water storage. Look for food-grade plastic containers and make sure that you’re water isn’t stored near fuel, insecticides or other chemicals as these can leach through the plastic.

Rand Water recommends avoiding the reuse of single-use plastic bottles as these may expose you to unhealthy micro-organisms.

Glass containers are a costly alternative and while they are less prone to being contaminated by errant vapours, they are fragile and you can’t really store large quantities in glass.

Local company Abeco Tanks highlights that metal storage may be viable for some who want to store water over a long period.

“When considering metal water containers, they will be either stainless steel or galvanized steel. Stainless steel is a highly durable material for water storage. Large stainless steel cisterns are a chromium-containing alloy that promotes corrosion resistance. These tanks will last approximately fifty years. Avoid treating the water in a stainless steel container with chlorine, as this degrades the ‘passive layer’ that prevents rusting,” Abeco Tanks writes.

“Stainless steel tanks are ideal for rainwater collection. They are also simple to manage and recyclable. Galvanized steel containers can be purchased in large cisterns. The interior of the tank is coated with an epoxy coating that prevents corrosion by acting as a barrier between the water and the metal. They will last between 30 and 35 years,” it adds.

Purification ritual

Now that you have a storage vessel it’s worth considering the purity of the water and the container. It’s a good idea to disinfect the container using warm soapy water. Don’t hold back here as any contaminants in the vessel will undoubtedly become part of your water.

As for the water itself, if it’s coming from a municipal source, it has been treated and contains chemicals like chlorine that will prevent bacteria and algae from growing in the water. This means that you could store tap water in a sealed container for a long time. However, breaking the seal of the container could allow any chemicals protecting you from harm to evaporate and this could allow nasty bacteria to enter your water supply.

In this case, trust your nose and tastebuds. If the water tastes odd or you can see particulates in the water, you will have to purify it using chlorine, water purification chemicals or by boiling the water.

Be sure to store your water away from direct sunlight and if possible, refrigerate it to prevent micro-organisms from growing and multiplying in the water.

Bottles of water purchases from a shop can be stored for use in emergencies and so long as they remain sealed, should be drinkable for a long time but follow any expiry dates listed on the bottle.

As for non-potable water, fill a bath or a few buckets to use for flushing the toilet.

Be sure to consider the water needs of pets, washing clothes and cooking as well. We also highly recommend switching your geyser off when leaving the house so that if the supply is shut off, your geyser doesn’t fizzle out.

As for updates we recommend following Johannesburg Water on X and Facebook for information about Rand Water’s maintenance.