Cape Town residents across several suburbs are being urged to prepare for temporary water supply disruptions this week as the City rolls out an extensive programme of infrastructure maintenance and upgrades aimed at strengthening the long-term reliability of the municipal water network.
The work, scheduled between Tuesday, 7 April, and Friday, 10 April, forms part of ongoing efforts by the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate to maintain ageing infrastructure, manage water pressure more effectively and reduce system losses across the metro, as noted by the City of Cape Town.
While interruptions will vary by area, ranging from intermittent low pressure to full shut-offs, officials say the upgrades are essential to safeguard future supply and prevent larger system failures.
City engineers will carry out a combination of pipe replacements, valve installations, pressure testing and infrastructure assessments across multiple supply zones.
The maintenance programme also includes zero-pressure testing and conditional assessments, technical processes used to identify hidden leaks or unmapped inflows before new pressure-management infrastructure is installed.
Although disruptive in the short term, the City notes that managing pressure within pipelines significantly reduces the risk of pipe bursts and water wastage over time.
Areas affected and when
Several neighbourhoods will experience scheduled disruptions at different times during the week:
Tuesday, 7 April
- Parts of Parkwood Estate, Fairways and Ottery will have no water from 9am until 4pmwhile teams restore the water supply zone.
- Sections of Oranjezicht, including Upper Orange Street and surrounding roads, will face a shutdown from 8am until 8pm as valves are replaced.
- Portions of Rylands will also experience a shut-off from 8am until 6pm as preparations begin for a pipeline replacement project.
Wednesday, 8 April
- Grassy Park may experience intermittent disruptions between 9am and 5pm during pressure testing.
- Parts of Bergvliet will have no water from 9am until 7:30pm for infrastructure connections.
- Hazendal, Belgravia, Athlone, Crawford and surrounding areas will receive water at lower pressure between 10am and 6pm while a pressure-reducing valve is upgraded.
- Zero-pressure testing will affect Parow and Elsies River from 9am until 4pm.
Thursday, 9 April
- Water will be shut off along sections of Govan Mbeki Drive in Philippi, including areas near Junxion Mall, from 9am until 6pm for a test shut-off.
- Routine servicing of the Mandalay pressure management system in Mitchells Plain is scheduled between 9am and 4pm, with no supply impact expected.
Thursday, 9 April to Friday, 10 April
- A large-scale operation to replace a major valve gearbox in Parow will affect multiple areas, including Century City, Milnerton, Kensington, Pinelands, Thornton, Goodwood, Langa and surrounding suburbs, from 9am on Thursday until 9am on Friday. Residents may experience low pressure or temporary outages during this period.
Water tankers will be deployed where necessary to assist communities experiencing extended disruptions.
After supply is restored, some households may notice cloudy or milky water, a temporary effect caused by trapped air in pipes. The water typically clears after standing for a short time.
Construction zones linked to the repairs will remain off-limits to the public for safety reasons.
Residents are encouraged to:
- Store sufficient water in clean, sealed containers ahead of scheduled shutdowns.
- Keep taps closed during outages to prevent damage when supply returns.
- Use water sparingly where partial supply remains available.
The City has apologised for the inconvenience, stressing that proactive maintenance is essential to maintaining a resilient water system for a growing metro.
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