Upcoming Water Supply Interruptions and Mitigating Steps from 6th to 12th August

The maintenance operations aim to improve the water supply infrastructure for the benefit of consumers. The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will be conducting maintenance operations in certain areas, which will lead to short-lived water supply disruptions. Residents are advised to stock up on water and keep their faucets shut during this time. Follow @CityofCTAlerts for updates.

Upcoming Water Supply Interruptions and Mitigating Steps from 6th to 12th August

The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has scheduled maintenance operations in certain regions, including a shut-off in Site C, Khayelitsha, and a trial shut-off in the Mowbray and Rondebosch areas. Residents are encouraged to stock up on water and keep their faucets shut. The maintenance operations aim to enhance the water supply infrastructure and safeguard future consistency. Follow @CityofCTAlerts for updates.

Maintenance Activities and Water Supply Disruptions

In their ongoing endeavor towards surpassing standards of service, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has outlined a schedule of maintenance operations in several specified regions, which will lead to short-lived water supply disruptions. This plan is driven by the essential need for regular service work, such as the fitting, repairing, and replacing of pipes and valves, to enhance the water supply infrastructure for the consumer’s advantage.

A primary location for these maintenance operations is the [Molteno Reservoir](https://capetown.today/preserving-cape-towns-historic-reservoirs-through-proactive-water-maintenance/). An annual maintenance period, beginning from Monday, 29 July 2024, and concluding on Monday, 12 August 2024, has been assigned for this reservoir, during which it will be provisionally out of operation. Nevertheless, the residents will not experience any disruption in their water supply during this interval. This is thanks to the strategic redirection of water from different sections of the Bulk Water supply network to the places supplied by the Molteno Reservoir.

Scheduled Shut-offs and Mitigating Measures

At the same time, Site C in Khayelitsha is set for a shut-down from 08:00 till 17:00 on Tuesday, 6 August 2024. This will provide the maintenance crew the opportunity to relocate the pressure reducing valve (PRV) into the newly built valve chamber. In anticipation of this, residents are encouraged to stock up sufficient water in sterilized, sealed containers for household usage during the shut-off period. In the event of any water insufficiencies, water tankers will be making rounds in the locality to ensure the necessary supply.

Moreover, a trial shut-off on the 500mm diameter water supply pipeline to the Mowbray and Rondebosch areas is planned by the Water and Sanitation Directorate. Scheduled above and below the Main Road between Durban Road and Belmont Road, from 09:00 until 18:00 on Tuesday, 6 August 2024. The objective of this action is to securely examine the water supply network and plan the actual shut-off necessary for pipeline repairs. Residents and businesses in these sectors, including the Mowbray Maternity Hospital, may encounter low water pressure or no water supply. Therefore, they are strongly advised to store sufficient water ahead of time as a precautionary step.

The Bigger Picture and Future Prospects

This operation is a segment of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s preventive maintenance and upgrade plan. Its fundamental goal is to safeguard the future consistency of water supply by addressing the problem of unaccounted water. While the city regrets any inconvenience caused, it highlights the necessity of these regular maintenance procedures.

Residents should be informed of several factors surrounding the larger-scale planned water supply disruptions. Firstly, the timing of these works has been thoughtfully selected to cause minimal disruption to the water supply. Secondly, all locations where water and sanitation repairs and upgrades are carried out are deemed construction zones and are, therefore, not accessible to the public. Thirdly, there may be times when maintenance work proves more complicated than anticipated, potentially extending the duration. Lastly, residents should be aware that the water may seem discoloured or cloudy once the supply has been reinstated due to air entrapped in the pipes. However, if left to settle in a glass, the water will slowly clear up.

For updates on the maintenance work and the whereabouts of water tankers, residents can follow @CityofCTAlerts, the official City of Cape Town account.

Regarding preparation, residents are advised to store enough water ahead of time and keep their faucets shut to prevent any water wastage or damage when the water supply is reinstated. By implementing these measures, the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is hopeful about ensuring more streamlined maintenance operations and minimizing the inconvenience caused to the residents.

1. Why are there upcoming water supply interruptions?

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is conducting maintenance operations in certain areas to improve the water supply infrastructure, which will result in short-lived water supply disruptions.

2. When are the scheduled shut-offs taking place?

There will be a shut-off in Site C, Khayelitsha from 08:00 till 17:00 on Tuesday, 6 August 2024, and a trial shut-off on the 500mm diameter water supply pipeline to the Mowbray and Rondebosch areas from 09:00 until 18:00 on Tuesday, 6 August 2024.

3. How should residents prepare for these scheduled shut-offs?

Residents are encouraged to stock up on water and keep their faucets shut. In the event of any water insufficiencies, water tankers will be making rounds in the locality to ensure the necessary supply.

4. What is the purpose of these maintenance operations?

The maintenance operations aim to enhance the water supply infrastructure and safeguard future consistency of water supply by addressing the problem of unaccounted water.

5. Will there be any disruption to the water supply during the maintenance period for the Molteno Reservoir?

No, there will not be any disruption in the water supply during the maintenance period for the Molteno Reservoir as water will be strategically redirected from different sections of the Bulk Water supply network to the places supplied by the Molteno Reservoir.

6. Where can residents get updates on the maintenance work and water tankers’ whereabouts?

Residents can follow @CityofCTAlerts, the official City of Cape Town account, for updates on the maintenance work and the whereabouts of water tankers.