Planned water supply maintenance for 15 to 17 December 2025

12 December 2025

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be doing planned work in the identified areas, which will result in a water supply disruption. 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 all residents will have a water disruption, but it aims to ensure they are able to prepare in the event it does occur.

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

Part of Helderrand – Somerset West

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply to part of Helderrand from 20:00 on Monday, 15 December 2025, until 04:00 on Tuesday, 16 December 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely replace a faulty 300mm diameter control valve on the water supply main at the corner of Irene Road and Dummer Road in Helderrand. Irene Street, Adam Tas Street, Du Plessis Street, Solomons Street, McLeod Street, Thibault Street and possibly surrounding areas in Helderrand, Somerset West will experience no water during this period.

Part of Rocklands – Mitchells Plain

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply from 10:00 until 16:00 on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 to the areas bounded by Spine Road, Park Avenue, Caravelle Road, Eisleben Road, Baden Powell Drive, Weltevreden Road, the Rocklands Sports Grounds, Mnandi Beach and possible surrounds in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain. This will enable the maintenance team to safely replace a control valve and install a water meter on the corner of Weltevreden Road and Spine Road, Rocklands. These areas will experience no water during this period.

Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant

The Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant will be shut down temporarily from 10:00 until 11:00 on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 for a scheduled power simulation test. The areas that may be affected include parts of Durbanville, Fisantekraal, Philadelphia, Klipheuwel, Wellington, and Hermon, as well as private consumers along the Voëlvlei pipeline. This shutdown may result in temporary water supply interruption to these areas. The respective supply reservoirs will be filled in advance, but consumers in these areas are requested to reduce their consumption during this period.

This work forms part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive infrastructure maintenance and upgrade programme, which ensures the future continuity of water supply by addressing the issue of unaccounted for water.

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.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office