Water has begun trickling out of taps in most parts of Johannesburg that were under maintenance over the weekend.
Some residents from areas supplied by the Eikenhof booster station and Zwartkopjes pump station, took to social media to express relief.
Rand Water said water will be received based on several factors. Low-lying areas are expected to recover first, as water flows more easily to these areas.
Higher-lying areas may take longer as the system gradually builds capacity.
Rand Water also said if the network (pipes, reservoirs, and towers) was heavily depleted, it will take time to refill before water reaches all taps.
In addition, reservoirs and towers may only be partially filled, which can lead to intermittent supply—some periods of water and others without as the system stabilizes.
A challenge as systems recover, is that of air locks or bursts in pipes due to increased pressure, which could also slow the process.