If you live in Cape Town, it’s time to plan ahead—because large parts of the city are about to go without water for hours at a time this week.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has scheduled a round of crucial maintenance work that will affect supply in multiple neighbourhoods across several days.
Here’s everything you need to know to stay ahead of the outages.
Strand Residents to Lose Water for 11 Hours
On Tuesday, 29 July, folks living in Rusthof, Strand will have their water completely cut off from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
This is to allow teams to safely install a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) on a 300mm pipeline in the area.
It’s a big job, and during that window, taps will run dry—so make sure to store enough water beforehand.
Test Shutdown Planned for Cape Town CBD
Also on Tuesday, maintenance crews will carry out a test shutdown of the water mains in parts of the Cape Town CBD between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
This is in preparation for a more extended shutdown later in the week.
If you live or work on these streets, you’ll be affected:
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Bree Street (between Strand and Shortmarket)
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Shortmarket Street (between Bree and Loop)
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Hout Street (between Bree and Loop)
This dry run sets the stage for the main shut-off happening Thursday, 31 July, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, when new water connections will be made along Bree Street.
Welgelegen to See Back-to-Back Disruptions
In Welgelegen, water will also be switched off temporarily on Tuesday, 29 July, between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
This is another test run ahead of Thursday’s bigger maintenance, when crews will replace three faulty valves.
Expect no water flow between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM on 31 July.
Intermittent Pressure Drops Across Southern Suburbs
Some neighbourhoods won’t lose water entirely but might notice pressure drops or inconsistent supply during the week of 28 July to 1 August. Areas to be aware of include:
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Hanover Park
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Athlone
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Rylands
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Newfields
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Pinati Estate
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Belthorn Estate
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Penlyn Estate
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Belgravia
If you’re in one of these suburbs, keep water bottles handy just in case!
Zero-Pressure Tests Could Disrupt Supply in More Areas
In addition to physical maintenance, Zero-Pressure Tests (ZPT) and condition checks will be carried out in several zones, potentially causing more supply issues.
These tests are vital for assessing the system’s integrity but might leave you without water during the following periods:
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Wednesday, 30 July (9:00–17:00)
Areas affected: The Conifers and Malibu Village (Blue Downs) -
Wednesday, 30 July (8:00 PM) to Thursday, 31 July (2:00 PM)
Area affected: Site C, Khayelitsha -
Thursday, 31 July (9:00–17:00)
Area affected: Kuils River Industrial Area (bounded by Fabriek Street, the railway line, R300, and Van Riebeeck Avenue)
