Planned water supply maintenance for 11 to 18 May 2026

10 May 2026

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be doing planned work in the identified areas, which will result in water supply disruptions. This critical maintenance work is done on our water supply infrastructure to benefit customers. Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to take note of the work that will take place and prepare accordingly.

Maintenance work, including pipe and valve installations, repairs and replacements

Residents are advised to store enough water in advance as a precautionary measure. Water should be stored in clean, sealed containers. This precaution does not guarantee that all residents will experience a water disruption, but it aims to ensure they can prepare if one does occur.

Planned maintenance work will result in a water supply disruption to these areas:

Shutdown of the Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

The City of Cape Town Water and Sanitation Directorate will shut down the Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant for urgent repairs to the MCC board and electrical components on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 08:00 for the duration of the day. These components affect the plant’s electrical supply.

This will impact the City of Cape Town Bulk Water Supply, the Stellenbosch Municipality, Drakenstein Municipality connection, and the private users on the Wemmershoek pipeline.

All reasonable measures have been taken to minimise the impact of this shutdown.

Parts of Oranjezicht

The City is currently busy with two water pipeline replacement projects in Oranjezicht:

Upper Orange Project

A water pipeline replacement project is underway in Upper Orange Street, Belmont Avenue and Montrose Avenue. To facilitate to installation of a new pipeline and valve at the corner of Belmont Avenue and Rose Mount Avenue, the water supply to Belmont Avenue, Rose Mount Avenue, Sirgeorge grey Street, Wynyard Street and Sophia Street will be shut off on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 08:00 to 20:30.

As part of the same project, the water supply to Belmont Avenue and Forest Road will be shut off on Thursday, 14 May 2026, from 08:00 to 20:00 to facilitate the connection of a temporary water main into the existing water mains,

Jagersfontein Project

A water pipe replacement project is underway in Myrtle Street, Jagersfontein Avenue, and Lane, Oranjezicht. To facilitate the connections of the new water main, the water supply will be shut off on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 08:00 to 20:00. The area affected by the shut-off will be Hiddingh Avenue (between Rus in Urbe Avenue and Mill Street), Prince Street (between Labourneure Street, Vredehoek Avenue, and Schoonder Street), Upper Buitenkant Street (between Mill Street and Vredehoek Avenue) and Myrtle Street.

In addition, residents should note that the outgoing lane on Myrtle Street, between Schoonder Street and Upper Buitenkant Street, will be temporarily closed from Monday, 11 May 2026, to Friday, 22 May 2026. This will allow the contractor to carry out excavation works, pipe replacement, valve and fire hydrant installations and the construction of chambers.

Parts of Bergvliet

The City will be shutting off the water supply to a part of Bergvliet, on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 09:00 until 19:30 which will result in a water supply disruption. This will allow for the following work to be safely completed: the construction on the main water supply to the area and the connections to the existing water supply infrastructure at the intersections off Starke Road and Airlie Road, Glen Alpine Road and Childrens Way Road, Glen Alpine Way Road and Zomerlust Road and Glen Alpine Road and Airlie Road. Starke Road, Airlie Road, Glen Alpine Road, Childrens Way Road, Zomerlust Road and the surrounding areas in Bergvliet will be affected.

Parts of Philippi, Brown’s Farm, Nyanga and surrounds

The City will be shutting off the water supply to a part of Philippi, Brown’s Farm, Nyanga and surrounds on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This will allow a City appointed contractor to safely install a new 80mm connection.

Part of Paarden Eiland

The City will facilitate the safe replacement of a defective fire hydrant in Paarden Eiland Road in Paarden Eiland. A test shut-off will take place on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00, while the actual works is scheduled to take place on Sunday, 17 May 2026, from 08:00 to 16:00. Paarden Eiland Road from Neride Street to Marine Drive, Neride Street and the surrounding area will be affected on both days.

Parts of Noordhoek

The water supply to properties in Village Lane, Driefontein Lane, Nthombeni Way and the surrounding area will be shut off on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 08:00 until 17:00 to facilitate the two tie-in’s onto Village Lane for bulk water meter installations.

Parts of Hout Bay

The City will be shutting off the water supply to Skaife Street in Hout Bay, on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 08:00 until 18:00. This will enable the safe completion of construction work on the main water supply to the area and will result in the disruption of water supply to Skaife Street, Darling Street, Andrews Road, Union Street, Orange Street, King Street and Campbell Street, Hout Bay.

Constantia Nek

The City will be installing pressure and flow logging devices on the main water supply to the area. This work is not intended to, but may result in intermittent supply of water on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This notice is a precautionary measure should the need arise to shut the supply during the installation. This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

Klaasenbosch

Maintenance work will be done on the water supply network in Westridge, Somerset West, on Thursday, 14 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This work is not intended to, but may result in intermittent supply of water to this area during the maintenance period. This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

Fisantekraal

Maintenance work will be done on the Pressure Reducing valve (PRV) in Fisantekraal on Thursday, 14 May 2026, from 10:00 until 15:00. This will result in no water to the area during this period. This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

Parts of Heathfield

The City will be shutting off the water supply to parts of Heathfield on Thursday, 14 May 2026, from 08:00 until 18:00. This will enable the safe completion of the construction work which involves the connection of a newly installed water pipeline along Canterbury Road, Heathfield at the intersections with Seven Oaks and Krieger Road, Heathfield, to the existing water reticulation system.

Blackheath Water Treatment Plant shutdown

The Blackheath Water Treatment Plant will be shut down to accommodate necessary maintenance at the plant. The planned shutdown is scheduled for Monday, 18 May 2026 from 07:00, to Friday, 22 May 2026 at 23:59.

This shutdown will significantly reduce the overall production capacity of the bulk water system. Residents across the city are therefore requested to use water sparingly during this period and to limit usage to essential purposes only, to help maintain system stability and protect bulk water storage levels while the maintenance is underway.

Zero-pressure tests (ZPT) and conditional assessments will be done on the water supply network resulting in water supply disruptions in the following areas:

Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00: Dunoon, Racing Park, The Stables, Killarney Gardens and Table View.
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00: Sun Valley.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 10:00 until 17:00: Bantry Bay, Clifton, Camps Bay and Fresnaye.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026, from 10:00 until 16:00: Van Riebeeckshof, Oude Westhof, Kanonberg and Kanonberg Lifestyle Estate.
Thursday, 14 May 2026, from 10:00 to 17:00: Bantry Bay, Fresnaye, Gardens, Oranjezicht and Tamboerskloof.

Residents are advised to store water in advance as a precautionary measure in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during this period.

Zero-pressure testing and step-testing are part of the installation process for zone management infrastructure. Tests are done in advance to see if any unmapped inflows need to be considered before installing new infrastructure (such as pressure-reducing valves for pressure management).

In these affected areas, some residents may experience low water pressure while some may have no water during the testing period. Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict which exact areas or streets will experience disruptions.

Additional zone management investigations will be carried out to ensure that the existing infrastructure is operating effectively. Pressure fluctuations may be experienced, but every effort will be made to minimise the impact as far as possible.

This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

Leak detection in Langa and Mitchell’s Plain (informative)

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be conducting visual leak detection in Langa and Mitchell’s Plain from Monday, 11 May 2026, to Friday, 22 May 2026, from 09:00 to 15:00. Leak detection is one of the water demand management interventions for saving water and reducing water loss through leaks.

Leak detection team will be walking on the streets to identify potential leaks, check all pipe contact points such as valves, water meter and fire hydrants.
All leaks will be reported to the relevant depot for repairs.
Residents are advised that there will be no disruption in water during this exercise.

Residents are advised to store water in advance as a precautionary measure in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during this period.

Smart meter pre-installation survey (informative)

The City of Cape Town has appointed PPD Engineering and Hardware Supplies to carry out site surveys ahead of installing smart water meters. Teams will be visiting selected properties in Jagtershof, Polkadraai, Kuils River Industrial, Sacks Circle, Highbury, Rustdal, Stellendale, Klipdam from Tuesday, 12 May 2026, to Monday, 18 May 2026, as part of this process.

This forms part of the City’s programme to modernise water metering and improve how water is managed across Cape Town. Residents are encouraged to cooperate with the survey team where possible. Your participation will help ensure a smooth rollout of smart water meters in your area.

The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience.

What residents need to know about larger-scale planned water supply disruptions:

Careful consideration has been given to the planning of this work to ensure it is being done at a time that is least disruptive to the water supply.
All sites where water and sanitation repairs and upgrades are conducted are deemed to be construction sites and, as such, are off-limits to members of the public.
Sometimes the maintenance work can be more complex than anticipated, which means the work could take longer.
For a short period after the supply has been restored, the water may be discoloured or look milky. This is because of trapped air in the pipes. If left to stand in a glass, the appearance will become clear, like normal.

For updates on the maintenance work (and location of tankers where applicable), follow @CityofCTAlerts which is a City of Cape Town X account.

How residents are advised to prepare for planned water supply disruptions:

Store enough water in clean, sealed containers in advance for use during this period.
Keep your taps closed to prevent any water loss and/or damage when the water supply is restored.

End

Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town

water supply