The Water and Sanitation Directorate of the City of Cape Town has announced essential maintenance works to improve water supply infrastructure. The scheduled maintenance will involve pipe and valve installations, repairs, and replacements, which will enhance local residents’ water supply services. Despite possible disruptions, the directorate assures the public that the planned upgrades’ long-term benefits will outweigh any temporary inconvenience.
Scheduled Maintenance to Affect Several Areas
Scheduled maintenance works will result in water supply disruptions in various areas. On 6th June between 12:30 and 18:00, Scottsville, Baviaanskloof, Penzance Estate, and areas on the left side of the Main Road up to Chapman’s Peak in Hout Bay will experience water supply disruptions. Residents of Endlovini in Khayelitsha should prepare for interruptions on 7th June from 08:00 to 16:00.
Initially scheduled for 3rd June, maintenance works in high-lying parts of Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Mandalay, and Bay View have been postponed. The annual shutdown of the Steenbras Water Treatment Plant is scheduled to begin on 6th June and end on 16th June.
Kenridge, De Bron, and Welgemoed areas will also experience water supply disruptions from 21:00 on 6th June overnight until 04:00 on 7th June, while Hillcrest in Somerset West will undergo maintenance on 6th June from 10:00 until 17:00.
Proactive Infrastructure Maintenance and Upgrade Program
The maintenance work is part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive infrastructure maintenance and upgrade program. The program aims to ensure the continuity of water supply and address the issue of unaccounted-for water.
Pressure Management Installation Process
Zero-pressure tests, step tests, and conditional assessments will be conducted in Pella and Katzenberg in the Atlantis area as part of the pressure management installation process. These tests help identify any unmapped inflows that need to be considered before installing smart pressure-reducing valves.
Preparedness and Awareness
Residents in the affected areas are advised to prepare for planned water supply disruptions by storing water in clean, sealed containers and keeping taps closed to prevent water loss or damage when the supply is restored. The Water and Sanitation Directorate has carefully planned these maintenance works to minimize disruptions, but construction sites where repairs and upgrades are conducted will be off-limits to the public for safety reasons.
The planned maintenance work is part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy, which aims to manage water pressure more effectively and reduce the risk of pipe bursts and water wastage. After the water supply has been restored, residents may notice discolored or milky-looking water due to trapped air in the pipes. To stay informed on the progress of maintenance work and receive updates on tanker locations (if applicable), residents can follow @CityofCTAlerts, the official City of Cape Town Twitter account.
