Water off in parts of Belhar, Wesbank, Claremont, Newlands, Atlantis, Somerset West, Montague Gardens from 2 to 6 December 2024

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.

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:

Belhar and Wesbank

The water supply to these areas will be shut off from 9 am until 5 pm on Monday, 2 December 2024, to enable our maintenance team to do repairs to the vandalised 800mm diameter water main adjacent to the Stellenbosch Arterial Road in Wesbank.

Some residents will experience low water pressure and others no water during this period.

Water tankers will roam through these areas to provide water for domestic use where required. 

Part of Claremont/Newlands

The water supply to Mountain Road and surrounding roads including Eden Street, Talana Street, Doris Road, Zion Street, Ethel Street, Alma Street, Sylvia Street, Middle Close as well as Newlands Road between Bowwood Road and Bishopscourt Road will be shut off from 08:00 until 18:00 on the following dates:

• Tuesday, 3 December 2024: To connect the newly installed pipeline to the existing water supply infrastructure.
• Thursday, 5 December 2024: To connect the newly installed pipeline to the existing water supply infrastructure.

Extension 12, Kanonkop and Sherwood Park (Atlantis)

The water supply to these areas will be shut off from 09:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday, 3 December 2024, to enable the maintenance team to make a connection to the 400mm diameter water main.

The entire area will, unfortunately, be affected as the impacted area cannot be reduced. Water tankers will roam through these areas to provide water for domestic use where required. 

Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant shutdown

The Voëlvlei Water Treatment Plant will be shut off from 08:00 on Wednesday, 4 December 2024, until 08:00 on Friday, 6 December 2024.

This will allow the maintenance team to do repairs to the gate valve from the Voëlvlei Dam and to seal a leak at the Plant. 

The reservoirs to the Voëlvlei supply areas will be filled in advance. The Drakenstein municipality has been informed to make alternate arrangements. 

Joe Slovo Park, Phoenix and the adjacent part of Montague Gardens

The water supply to Joe Slovo Park, Phoenix and part of Montague Gardens bounded by, and including Freedom Way, Montagu Drive, Racecourse Road and Omuramba Drive, will be shut off from 09:00 until 20:00 on Thursday, 5 December 2024.

The maintenance team need to install a 200mm diameter pressure-reducing valve (PRV) on the water main to these areas.

Water tankers will roam through these areas to provide water for domestic use where required. 

Part of Govan Mbeki Drive – Lansdowne/Hanover Park

The water supply to the area along Govan Mbeki Drive between Wetton Circle and Hanover Park Avenue, including the Lansdowne Corner Shopping Mall, the Astron Service Station, as well as the Epilepsy SA in the vicinity of Fynn Close will be shut off from 08:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, 5 December 2024.

This will allow for the connection of the relocated water main to accommodate the current IRT road construction.

Westridge (Somerset West)

The water supply from the Wingerd Reservoir to this area will be shut off from 09:00 until 17:00 on Thursday, 5 December 2024.

This will allow the maintenance team to install a control valve on the water supply main. 

Zero-pressure tests (ZPT) and conditional assessments will be done on the water supply network in the following areas:

• Tuesday, 3 December 2024, from 10:00 until 16:00: Blackheath Industrial, Gaylee, Austinville and Happy Valley.
• Tuesday, 3 December 2024, from 10:00 until 16:00: Claremont, Rondebosch and Kenilworth.
• Wednesday, 4 December 2024, from 09:00 until 16:00: De Tijger, Avondale, Fairfield Estate, Oostersee, Parow North, Plattekloof and Belvedere.
• Thursday, 5 December 2024, from 10:00 until 16:00: Claremont, Rondebosch and Kenilworth.

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, and some may have no water coming out of their taps for some time 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 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.