If you live in eThekwini, it’s time to prepare for some serious water interruptions.
A planned shutdown is on the cards, and it could affect your home, your work—and your patience.
Starting on Tuesday morning, 8 July, and stretching into Wednesday, 9 July, many areas supplied by the uMngeni-uThukela Wiggins Water Treatment Works Gravity System will experience a halt in water supply.
So if you’re in the region, now’s the time to fill those buckets and bottles.
Why the Water Supply Is Being Cut
According to the eThekwini Municipality, this temporary shutdown is necessary so that uMngeni-uThukela Water, the City’s bulk water supplier, can carry out some critical infrastructure upgrades.
Specifically, they’ll be replacing 1200mm sales and check meters on a main gravity bulk pipeline.
They’re also fixing a persistent leak on the aqueducts—a problem that’s been affecting plant inflow since a previous shutdown back in April.
To carry out the work safely and effectively, the water treatment facility will need to be completely turned off, which means no new water will be flowing into the city’s reservoirs during that time.
What the City Is Doing to Minimize the Impact
The City says it’s doing everything it can to ease the inconvenience.
Officials are currently topping up reservoirs in advance, but they warn that availability during the shutdown will depend heavily on how much water residents use.
If you’re one of the lucky few who still have water during the shutdown, you’re urged to use it sparingly.
Keep showers short, avoid laundry runs, and hold off on filling the pool—every drop counts.
Once the shutdown ends, it won’t be an instant fix.
It could take up to three days for all city reservoirs to fully recover.
Some areas might see water return sooner than others, but municipal teams will be monitoring the system closely.
Water tankers will also be dispatched to high-need areas to provide temporary relief.
These Are the Areas That Will Be Affected
Here’s a breakdown of the neighborhoods expected to be hit by the water outage:
Central System Affected Zones Include:
Glenwood, Congella, Sea View, Chesterville, Umbilo, Bonela, Isiphingo Beach, Isiphingo Rail, Orient Hills, Bluff, Prospecton Industrial, Umlazi T, Malaba Hills, Reunion, Umlazi V, Umlazi Mission A, Ezimbokodweni, Lotus Park, Malukazi, Umlazi U, Umlazi Y, Durban Old Airport, Jacobs, Sherwood, Merebank East, Merewent, Mobeni, Mobeni West, Bayhead, Beach, Bachwood, Cave Rock, Durban CBD, Durban Beachfront, Old Fort, Point, South Beach, Stamford Hill, Warwick, Austeville, Brighton Beach, Wentworth, Clairwood, Montclair, Rossburgh, Woodlands, and various parts of Morningside, Overport, Essenwood, Westridge, Carrington Heights, Mobeni Heights, Lamontville, and even Prince Mshiyeni Hospital.
South System Affected Zones Include:
Athlone Park, Galleria Mall, Arbour Crossing, Kingsway Hospital, Southgate Industrial Park, Lewis Drive, Amanzimtoti CBD, Almond, Winklespruit, Warner Beach, Illovo Glen, Lower Illovo, Doonside, Launceston, Illovo Beach, Karridene Protea Hotel, Panorama Park, Umgababa, Umnini, Area Africa, Mfume, KwaSoni, Mashiwase, Nkwali, Lovu (Sections A, B & C), Bhekulwandle, Msarhweni, Lovu Phase 1 & 3, Lovu Landfill, Inkwali, KwaMakhutha, Mkhazini, eMasomini, Ekuhlengeni Psychiatric Hospital, Ohlongeni, D1060, Adams Central, Zwelisha, Ilfracombe, Magabheni, Ehlanzeni, Thoyane, Umkhomazi, Craigieburn, Amahlongwa, Amalundi, Crowder Farm, Clansthal, Saiccor Village, Naidooville, and Lewis Drive.