City advises of urgent Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant shutdown

26 March 2022

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate had to urgently shut down its Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant at 09:00 this morning, 26 March 2022, because the bulk water main towards Cape Town has sprung a leak. Fortunately, the Wemmershoek Water Plant has been operating at a substantially reduced output to allow for the current repairs at the Glen Garry Reservoir.

The Water and Sanitation Directorate was informed of a water leak onto the N1 outgoing in the vicinity of the R304 Klipheuwel – Stellenbosch off-ramp and immediately dispatched a team to investigate. It was discovered that there was a leak on the scour valve which is located in the valve chamber on the road median. 
 
This necessitated an urgent shutdown of the Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant to enable the bulk water maintenance crew to depressurise the pipeline, pump the water out of the chamber and to safely start commencing with the repairs  
 
The Drakenstein and Stellenbosch municipalities have been informed as they are the only ones that are impacted by this shutdown
 
Consumers in Bloekoembos, Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, Brackenfell, Bellville and Durbanville are requested to reduce their water consumption during this period to maintain available water supply and pressure in the pipe network and reservoirs until the repairs are completed.
 
The City regrets the inconvenience caused, and appreciates residents’ cooperation as it is imperative that it maintains its water supply infrastructure to the benefit of its consumers.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office