Quick answer
No water from any tap is a municipal outage, a closed stop-cock, an empty backup tank with a failed pump, or — rarely in Johannesburg — a frozen external line. Work outward from the house: check another tap, then the stop-cock, then the tank and pump, then whether neighbours are affected. Most cases resolve at one of the first two steps without anyone needing to be called.
Common causes
- Municipal outage or planned maintenance in the area
- Stop-cock closed, sometimes by a contractor working on site
- Backup tank empty and the pump unable to prime
- Pump failure or a tripped pump breaker at the DB board
- Blocked or collapsed supply line between the meter and the house
- Reservoir or pump-station failure affecting a whole suburb
What you can do now
- 1Check more than one tap, including an outside tap fed before any filtration
- 2Confirm the main stop-cock and any house isolation valve are fully open
- 3Ask neighbours, and check the City of Johannesburg outage notices
- 4Check the backup tank level and whether the pump is running or has tripped
- 5Switch off the geyser at the DB board if the supply is off for any length of time
When to call a professional
If the stop-cock is open, the tank is full and neighbours have water, book a plumber to test the supply line into the property. Call sooner if you have a pressure pump, since running a pump dry destroys the seals within minutes — switch it off first. A blocked or collapsed incoming line needs locating before anything is dug up.
Typical cost in Johannesburg
Pump diagnostic R750 · Supply repair quoted
Indicative ranges only. We provide written, itemised quotes before any work.
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