Water off for maintenance in parts of Cape Town from 29 September to 3 October

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.

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 are able to prepare in the event it does occur.
 
Planned maintenance work will result in a water supply disruption to these areas:

Blackheath Water Treatment Plant annual shutdown

The City's Water and Sanitation Directorate will shut down the Blackheath Water Treatment Plant to accommodate necessary maintenance at the plant. The planned five-day shutdown is scheduled for Monday, 29 September 2025, from 06:00 to Friday, 3 October at 23:59.
 
This shutdown will significantly reduce the overall production capacity of the Bulk water system.

The shutdown will impact the water supply to the Glen Garry and Newlands reservoirs.

Residents across the city are therefore kindly requested to reduce their consumption and use water sparingly during this period, even though the City is topping up its distribution reservoirs prior to the shutdown.

The Drakenstein Municipality and Stellenbosch Municipality have been informed to make alternate arrangements during this period.

Part of Rylands

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be carrying out essential maintenance in Rylands.

To install new valves in College Road (between Carnie Road and Jane Avenue), a temporary water supply shut-off will take place on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, from 09:00 to 18:00.

The following streets will be affected:  College Road, Doring Road, Flat Road, Plettenberg Way, Middel Road, Mabel Road and Tussen Road.

Zero-pressure tests (ZPT) and conditional assessments will be done on the water supply network, resulting in water supply disruptions in the following areas:
 
Wednesday, 1 October 2025, from 10:00 until 16:00: Kraaifontein Industria and Wynland Industria Park

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.

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.
  
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.