Planned water supply maintenance for 19 to 23 May 2025
18 May 2025
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be doing planned work in the identified areas, which will result in 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.
Planned maintenance work will result in water supply disruption to these areas:
Blackheath Water Treatment Plant annual shutdown
The Blackheath Water Treatment (WTP) Plant will be shut down from 06:00 on Monday, 19 May 2025, until 20:00 on Friday, 23 May 2025, for maintenance. This will involve the replacement and sealing of the penstocks at the inlet channels to the sedimentation tanks of the water treatment process. It will reduce the drinking water production capacity of the City significantly during this period. Our reservoirs will be filled in advance, however, consumers across the city are encouraged to reduce their water consumption while the Blackheath WTP is on shutdown. Water supply will be rerouted to the Blackheath supply areas during this period.
Somerset West
The water supply to this area will be shut off temporarily from 08:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday, 20 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely install control valves in New Street and Oatlands Street. Due to the location of the work on the water supply network, some parts of Somerset West will have water at lower-than-usual water pressure and others will experience no water.
Parts of Wynberg
The water supply to these areas will be shut off temporarily from 08:00 until 17:00 on Tuesday, 20 May 2025 and Wednesday, 21 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely install control valves to the existing water supply infrastructure at the intersections of Mountain View and Bower Roads, Mountain View and Prospect Hill Roads as well as Mountain View and Orient Roads in Wynberg. The area bounded by Bower Road, Wellington Avenue, Bayview Road, Silverlea Road and possibly the immediate surrounding streets will experience no water during this period.
Large part of Kommetjie
The water supply to Wireless Road, Osborne Street and a section of Kommetjie Main Road will be shut off temporarily from 09:00 until 21:00 on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely connect the newly installed pipelines along Kommetjie Main Road, Wireless Road and Osborne Street to the existing infrastructure. The residents will experience no water during this period. Water tankers will be made available in Kirsten Avenue in the vicinity of Kommetjie Primary School and Wireless Road at the intersection of Flamingo Drive to provide water where required for domestic use.
Eureka Estate – Elsies River
The water supply to the area bounded by Owen Road, Eureka Street, 42nd Avenue and 35th Street in Eureka Estate will be shut off temporarily from 09:00 until 19:00 on Wednesday, 21 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely complete a new 225mm diameter connection on the water supply main in the area. Residents will experience no water during this period. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.
Rusthof – Strand
The water supply to this area will be shut off temporarily from 09:00 until 20:00 on Thursday, 22 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely connect a pressure reducing valve (PRV) on the water supply main to the area. The residents will experience no water during this period. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.
Oranjezicht, Tamboerskloof, Schotchekloof – Bo-Kaap
The water supply to these areas will be shut off temporarily from 09:00 until 21:00 on Thursday, 22 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely replace a defective 300mm diameter valve on the water supply main to these areas and install additional new valves and water meters in the water supply network. Residents will experience no water during this period. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.
Parts of Tokai
The water supply to various roads in Tokai will be shut off temporarily from 08:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, 22 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely connect the newly installed pipelines along Tokai Road to the existing infrastructure. Areas affected by the shut-off are along Tokai Road, Forest Glade and Zwaanswyk Road and surrounds, Tokai. These residents will experience no water during this period.
Macassar
The water supply to this area will be shut off temporarily from 08:00 until 19:00 on Thursday, 22 May 2025. This will enable the maintenance team to safely replace a critical control valve on the reservoir supplying the area. Residents will experience no water during this period. Water tankers will be made available to provide water for domestic use where required.
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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Sometimes the maintenance work can be more complex than anticipated, which means the work could take longer.
4. 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:
1. Store enough water in clean, sealed containers in advance for use during this period.
2. 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
