Planned water supply maintenance for 2 to 6 March 2026

27 February 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:

Part of Oranjezicht

The Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply in parts of Oranjezicht as follows:

• Upper Orange Street, Sidmouth Avenue, Huguenot Avenue and possible surrounds from 08:00 until 14:00 on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, to enable the maintenance team to do an assessment of the impacted area for the actual shut-off from 08:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, 5 March 2026, when a by-pass will be installed in Upper Orange Road.
• Breda Street between the corner of Vriende Street and Mill Street and possible surrounds from 08:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, to install a by-pass.
• Myrtle Street between Hiddingh Avenue and Schoonder Street and possible surrounds from 08:00 until 16:00 on Thursday, 5 March 2026, to install a by-pass.

These roads and possibly surrounds will experience no water during this period.

Kenwyn and Punters Estate

The water supply will be temporarily shut off to Kenwyn and Punters Estate from 10:00 until 18:00 on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. This will enable the maintenance team to safely replace a faulty 100mm diameter valve in the local network and install a 250mm diameter valve on the water supply main to the area to improve the supply. The area will experience no water. Residents and businesses are kindly requested to store enough water in advance in clean sealed containers for domestic use during this period. Water tankers will be on standby for areas experiencing no water.

A large 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 16:00 on Thursday, 5 March 2026. This will enable the maintenance team to safely install the temporary water supply infrastructure in preparation for the pipe replacement project to be undertaken 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.
 
Planned fire hydrant servicing and replacements

The City will be carrying out planned fire hydrant servicing and replacements in the streets listed below. During this time, water supply may be temporarily interrupted or water pressure may be reduced.

• Tuesday, 3 March 2026
  Vredenburg Lane and possible surrounds (CBD, Cape Town) – 09:00 - 18:00
• Thursday, 5 March 2026
  Beach Road between St Andrews and St Johns Roads and possible surrounds – 09:00 - 18:00
• 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:

• Monday, 2 March 2026, from 09:30 until 16:30: Panorama
• Wednesday, 4 March 2026, from 09:30 until 16:30: Plattekloof Upper
• Thursday, 5 March 2026, from 09:30 until 16:00: Plattekloof 5
• Thursday, 5 March 2026, from 09:00 until 16:00: Fish Hoek
• Friday, 6 March 2026, from 09:30 until 16:30: Welgelegen

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:

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.

Published by:
Media Office, City of Cape Town