As South Africa marks Water Month and reflects on the importance of protecting this vital resource, the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting responsible water use across its developments in the City of Johannesburg. The entity continues to explore practical water-saving interventions across both new and existing housing projects, ensuring that the delivery of affordable housing goes hand in hand with sustainable resource management.

With a management portfolio of more than 7,500 rental units, JOSHCO recognises that even small reductions in water consumption across its developments can collectively generate significant environmental and operational benefits. Water security remains a shared responsibility, and the organisation is committed to playing its part in safeguarding scarce water resources while strengthening the sustainability of human settlements.

In response to growing pressure on water infrastructure and supply systems, JOSHCO has implemented targeted retrofit programmes aimed at reducing water consumption and improving long-term resilience within its social housing developments.

One such initiative was introduced in 2021 at the Roodepoort Tshedzani Phase 3 Social Housing Development, where a range of water-saving technologies were installed as part of the entity’s broader sustainability programme. These interventions included the installation of 3 litres-per-minute flow regulators, aerator inserts on taps, 5,000-litre JOJO water storage tanks, and rainwater harvesting systems.

The rainwater harvesting component alone resulted in a reduction of more than 13% in water usage, demonstrating how targeted infrastructure upgrades can deliver measurable conservation benefits.

JOSHCO has also taken steps to strengthen water resilience at its Devland housing development, located near the Golden Highway. A dedicated water tanker has been deployed at the site to help mitigate the impact of supply interruptions and support residents during periods of disruption, while also reinforcing the importance of responsible water use.

Through these initiatives, JOSHCO continues to contribute to the City of Johannesburg’s broader efforts to improve water sustainability and ensure that communities have access to reliable, well-managed housing environments.