Planned water supply maintenance for 16 to 25 March 2026

13 March 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 all residents will have a water disruption, but it aims to ensure they can prepare if it does occur.

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

Joe Slovo – Milnerton

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply to Joe Slovo in Milnerton from 09:00 until 16:00 on Monday, 16 March 2026. This will enable the maintenance team to repair a damaged water main in the area. The area will experience no water during this period. Residents are kindly requested to store water in advance in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during the repairs. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.

Part of Avondale – Atlantis

The water supply will be temporarily shut off to the area bounded by Charel Uys Drive, Reygersdal Drive and Dassenberg Drive and possible surrounds in Avondale, Atlantis from 09:00 until 17:00 on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. This will allow the maintenance team to safely install control valves in the water supply infrastructure in preparation for the pipe replacement project to be done in the area. This area will experience no water during this period. Residents are kindly requested to store enough water in advance in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during this period. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.

Malibu Village, Electric City and Forest Village – Blue Downs

The water supply to these areas will be temporarily shut off from 09:00 until 17:00 on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. This will enable the maintenance team to safely install critical zone management infrastructure in the water supply network to these areas. These areas will experience no water during this period. Residents are kindly requested to store enough water in advance in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during this period.

Parts of Rylands

The water supply to Tussen Road, Jane Avenue, Mable Road, Repulse Road and surrounding roads will be temporarily shut off from 08:00 until 18:00 on Tuesday, 17 March 2026. This will enable the maintenance team to safely assess the impacted area in preparation for the actual shut-off from 08:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, 19 March 2026 when the temporary water supply pipeline will be installed to facilitate the pipe replacement project in the area. These roads will experience no water during this period. Residents are kindly requested to store enough water in advance in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during these periods.

Part of Steenberg

The water supply will be temporarily shut off to the area bounded by Handel Street, Orchestra Street, Verdi Street, Rosini Street, Gluck Street, Military Road, and surrounds in Steenberg from 09:00 until 19:00 on Thursday, 19 March 2026. This will allow the maintenance team to safely connect the newly installed pipeline to the existing water supply infrastructure at the intersection of Wagner Way and Military Road in Steenberg. This area will experience no water during this period. Residents are kindly requested to store enough water in advance in clean, sealed containers for domestic use during this period.

Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant shutdown (advance notification)

The Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant will be shut off from 08:00 on Monday, 23 March 2026 until 00:00 on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. This will allow for planned maintenance work to be done to components of the water treatment process. The City reservoirs to the supply areas will be filled in advance. The Drakenstein Municipality and private users along the Voëlvlei pipeline have been informed to fill their reservoirs and make alternate arrangements. Residents and businesses in the Durbanville, Philadelphia, Fisantekraal and Klipheuwel areas are however requested to reduce their water 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.

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, 17 March 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00: Area bounded by Robert Sobukwe Drive, Kasselsvlei Road, Industry Road, Kosmos Street and possibly immediate surrounds in Bellville South.

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.

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