Planned water supply maintenance for 16 to 21 May 2026
15 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:
Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
The Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant is back online following an emergency shutdown on Thursday, 14 May 2026, which was required to address sludge build-up within the treatment process. This was caused by high turbidity and colour levels in the raw water supply following recent storms.
Although the plant is now operational, it is currently running at reduced capacity while raw water quality improves to levels that will allow full production to resume.
As a result, this reduced operational capacity may continue to affect Drakenstein Municipality, Stellenbosch Municipality, and private consumers along the Wemmershoek pipeline. Consumers in these areas may experience lower water pressure, and in some cases temporary supply interruptions, until normal production levels are restored.
Parts of Claremont
The City will temporarily shut off the water supply to Quiet Street, Ribelby Road and surrounding streets in Claremont to conduct maintenance of defective fire hydrants in Quiet Street on Saturday, 16 May 2026, from 08:00 until 16:00 and in Ribelby Road on Sunday, 17 May 2026, from 08:00 until 16:00.
Parts of Gardens
The City will temporarily shut off the water supply in Hofmeyer Street, Gardens on Saturday, 15 May 2026, from 08:00 until 16:00 to conduct maintenance of defective fire hydrants
Parts of Paarden Eiland
The City will temporarily shut off the water supply in Paarden Eiland Road, Paarden Eiland
on Sunday, 17 May 2026, from 08:00 until 16:00 to conduct maintenance of defective fire hydrants.
Parts of Imhoff’s Gift
The City will be conducting maintenance on the water supply network in Imhoff’s Gift on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This work is not expected to but may result in intermittent supply of water to this area throughout the day.
Parts of Marina Da Gama
The City will be conducting maintenance on the water supply network in Marina Da Gama on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This work is not expected to but may result in intermittent supply of water to this area throughout the day.
Parts of Suikerbossie, Hout Bay
The City will be conducting maintenance on the water supply network in Suikerbossie, Hout Bay on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This work is not expected to but may result in intermittent supply of water to this area throughout the day.
Parts of Newlands
A City appointed contractor will be doing a new 160mm water connection in 177a Kinkel Way, Newlands. In preparation for the works a test shut off will take place on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 until 18:00 and the actual works is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 to 18:00. This work will affect Kinkel Way and Mariendahl Avenue, Newlands on both days.
Parts of Green Point
The City will temporarily shut off the water supply in parts of Green Point to repair a defective valve at 108 Main Road, Green Point. In preparation for the works a test shut off will take place on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 10:00 until 12:00 and the actual works is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 to 18:00. Main Road from Varneys Road to Upper Portswood Road in Green Point will be affected on both days.
Parts of Philippi
A City appointed contractor will be doing a new 80mm water connection in New Eisleben Road, Philippi. In order to safely complete this new connection, the water supply to parts of Philippi will be shut off on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at 09:00 until 18:00. The affected areas include: New Eisleben Road between Govan Mbeki and Bristol Road and the immediate surroundings.
Jagtershof
The City will be conducting maintenance on the water supply network in Jagtershof on Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00. This work is not expected to but may result in intermittent supply of water to this area throughout the day.
Parts of Heathfield
The City will be shutting off the water supply to parts of Heathfield on Thursday, 21 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. The work involves connection of a newly installed water pipeline along Canterbury Road, Heathfield at the intersections with Ashford and Maidstone Road, Heathfield to the existing water reticulation system. The affected streets include Canterbury Road, Ashford Road and Maidstone Road and surrounding roads in Heathfield.
Parts of Somerset West
The City will be shutting off water supply to parts of Somerset West on Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 08:00 until 18:00 to replace a faulty valve at the Louis Botha Reservoir in Louis Botha Avenue, Somerset West. The affected area includes Louis Botha Avenue and surrounding streets in Somerset West.
Parts of Sun Valley
The City will be shutting off the water supply to parts of Sun Valley, on Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 until 20:30. This will enable the safe completion of construction work on the main water supply to the area. The affected area is bounded by Chebec Crescent, Chrisiris Close, Frigate Crescent and possible surrounds in Sun Valley.
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, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00: Claremont and Wynberg
- Tuesday, 19 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00: Dunoon and surrounding industrial area including, Racing Park, The Stables and Table View
- Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00: Sun Valley
- Thursday, 21 May 2026, from 09:00 to 16:00: Claremont and Wynberg
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.
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 Rocklands, Portlands, Saxonsea, Blouberg Rise, Bloubergrant, Camps Bay, Bakoven, Sea Point and Green Point from Tuesday, 19 May 2026, to Tuesday, 26 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
