Update on planned water supply disruptions for the week ahead- from Tuesday 14 March
12 March 2023
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be doing planned work in the identified areas, which will result in water supply disruptions. The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused, but it must maintain its water supply infrastructure to benefit its consumers. Residents in the affected areas below are encouraged to take note of the work that will be taking place in their areas. Read more below:
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 the public.
• Sometimes the maintenance work can be more complex than anticipated, resulting in it taking 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 Twitter account.
How residents are advised to prepare for planned water supply disruptions:
• Store enough water in clean sealed containers that will last for your use during this period.
• Keep your taps closed to prevent any water loss and/or damage when the water supply is restored.
Zero-Pressure Tests, Step Tests and Conditional Assessments
• Rhodes Drive – Hout Bay
A tie-in will be done on the main water supply along Rhodes Drive in Hout Bay. This will enable the construction of a valve chamber for the pressure reduction valve (PRV) which will happen over a four-week period. The tie-in will result in the disruption of the water supply to this area on Wednesday, 15 March 2023, from 09:00 until 15:00.
• Capri Village
Zero pressure tests will be conducted on the main water supply to this area. This is due to the reconfiguration of the pressure management zone for the area for optimal performance. This work will result in the disruption of the water supply to this area on Thursday, 16 March 2023, from 21:00 overnight until 04:00 on Friday, 17 March 2023.
• Mowbray, Observatory, Salt River and Woodstock
Zero pressure tests will be conducted on the main water supply to these areas. This will result in the disruption of the water supply in these areas on Tuesday, 14 March 2023, from 21:00 overnight until 04:00 on Wednesday,15 March 2023. This work was initially scheduled for Thursday, 2 March at 21:00 until Friday, 3 March at 04:00, but could not be completed due to resource constraints.
Pressure management installations and operations
Zero-pressure testing and step testing are part of the installation process for pressure management technology. Tests are done in advance to see if any unmapped inflows need to be considered before installing smart pressure-reducing valves.
In these affected areas, some residents may experience low water pressure, and some may have no water coming out of their taps for some time during this overnight testing period. It is not possible to predict which areas or streets will experience disruptions.
Conditional testing on the other hand ensures that the pressure reduction valves (PRVs) in the water supply network are operating effectively and managing the pressures at the determined settings to preserve the lifespan of the pipeline and reduce the occurrence of water wastage resulting from pipe bursts. Pressure fluctuations may be experienced, but will be minimised 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.
Maintenance Work – Pipe and valve installations, repairs and replacements
• Ocean View
The water supply to Ocean View will be shut off from 08:00 until 17:00 on Tuesday, 14 March 2023. This will result in the disruption of supply in these areas. This will enable the maintenance team to safely connect the newly installed water supply pipeline in Lyra Road to the existing water supply network as part of the City’s pipe replacement programme.
This work forms part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive infrastructure maintenance programme which ensures the future continuity of water supply by addressing the issue of unaccounted-for water.
The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused.
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
