Cape Town Prepares for Planned Water Disruptions

Several areas in Cape Town will experience temporary water supply interruptions due to planned maintenance. Residents should prepare for shutdowns lasting up to 11 hours on specified dates.

Scheduled Maintenance

The City of Cape Town has announced that essential maintenance work will cause temporary water disruptions in multiple locations. The maintenance is scheduled for Monday, July 7th and Tuesday, July 8th.

Affected Areas and Timelines

Water disruptions are scheduled to occur in the following areas:

• Strand (Algoa Street, Gants Plaza and surrounds): A complex pipe replacement by a City-appointed contractor will result in a temporary water shut-off from 9:00 to 20:00 on Monday, July 7th. This will impact Algoa Street and surrounding streets in Gants Plaza, Strand. Water tankers will be deployed to the area.
• Part of Brackenfell South: Water supply to Crammix Road, Brackenfell South, will be temporarily shut off from 9:00 to 16:00 on Monday, July 7th.
• Parts of Noordhoek: Maintenance teams will shut off the water supply to Noordhoek Main Road and the surrounding area from 9:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday, July 8th, to facilitate a bulk water connection to a new development.
• Parts of Claremont and Newlands: A test shut-off of the water main on Talana Road, Newlands, is scheduled from 9:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, July 8th, in preparation for the actual shut-off from 9:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, July 10th. Residents in Talana Road, Talana Close, Bowwood Road, Sylvia Road, Middelburg Close, Alma Road, Mountain Road, Doris Road, Ethel Road, Bishopscourt Road, Zion Road, and Eden Road will experience no water during this period.
• Parts of Gordon’s Bay: A temporary shut-off is scheduled from 09:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday, July 8th and Wednesday, July 9th, affecting Sir Lowry`s Pass Road, Avondrus Street, and Bluegum Avenue.

Zero-Pressure Tests

Additionally, the City of Cape Town will conduct zero-pressure tests (ZPT) and conditional assessments on the water supply network, leading to further disruptions. These tests help identify leaks and weak points in the system.

The zero-pressure tests are scheduled for:

• Tuesday, July 8th, from 10:00 to 16:00: Kenridge, Durbanville Hills, Vergesig, and Aurora.
• Thursday, July 10th, from 10:00 to 15:00: Pinehurst, Langeberg Hoogte, Durbanville Meadows and Uitzicht, Kraaifontein.

Cape Town, like many cities, faces ongoing challenges in maintaining its water infrastructure. According to a 2023 report by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation, approximately 37% of the country’s municipal water is lost due to leaks and other inefficiencies (DWS 2023).