Major water shutdowns planned across Cape Town this week
· The South African
Residents and businesses across parts of Cape Town are being warned to prepare for a series of planned water interruptions as the City carries out essential maintenance, repairs and upgrades to its water supply infrastructure.
The work will take place across several areas between Sunday, 26 July and Saturday, 1 August 2026, with some disruptions lasting several hours and others extending for up to 24 hours.
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The City of Cape Town has urged residents in affected areas to store enough water in advance in clean, sealed containers for essential domestic use.
The City stressed that storing water does not necessarily mean every resident will experience an interruption, but it will help households and businesses prepare if their supply is affected.
Affected areas around Cape Town
Kramat, Macassar Beach and Sandvlei
Residents in Kramat, Macassar Beach and Sandvlei will face a water shutdown on Monday, 27 July, from 08:00 to 18:00.
The interruption is required to allow maintenance teams to replace a faulty valve on the water supply line.
The affected areas will have no water during the planned work.
Manenberg
A section of Wye Road in Manenberg will be without water on Tuesday, 28 July, from 09:00 to 18:00.
The shutdown will allow a contractor to complete a new water connection.
Residents on Wye Road between Vygekraal Road and the Wye Road corner will be affected.
Newlands
Residents along Appian Way in Newlands will experience a temporary water shutdown on Tuesday, 28 July, from 11:00 to 12:00 as preparations are made for a new water connection.
A second, longer shutdown is planned for Thursday, 30 July, from 09:00 to 18:00, when the contractor completes the connection.
The entire length of Appian Way will be affected.
Hout Bay
Parts of Martingale Avenue in Hout Bay will have no water on Tuesday, 28 July, from 09:00 to 19:00.
The shutdown will allow contractors to safely complete water pipeline relocation work required as part of the Martingale Avenue road upgrade.
Elsies River
Clarkes Estate and Adriaanse in Elsies River will face another water interruption on Wednesday, 29 July, from 09:00 to 18:00.
The shutdown will allow a contractor to make new water connections in Old Stellenbosch Road in Clarkes Estate as part of a housing project.
Blackheath Water Treatment Plant
A major shutdown is planned at the Blackheath Water Treatment Plant from 06:00 on Tuesday, 28 July, until 06:00 on Wednesday, 29 July.
The work is needed to commission a new compressor and urgently replace an isolation valve at the cross-connection between the upper-to-lower reservoir pipeline and the Link pipeline.
During the shutdown, there will be no water supply to the Cape Winelands supplied via the upper-to-lower pipeline.
Parts of Kuils River and Zevenwacht, which receive water via the Link pipeline, may also experience disruptions.
Residents and businesses in the affected areas are advised to store water ahead of time.
Fresnaye
Parts of Fresnaye will face a water shutdown on Thursday, 30 July, from 09:00 to 17:00.
The work will allow a contractor to install a new water connection in Avenue Des Huguenots.
The affected roads include:
- Avenue Des Huguenots, from Avenue De Longueville to High Level Road
- High Level Road
- Avenue Le Sueur
- Avenue Fresnaye
- Avenue Disandt
- Avenue De Longueville
- Protea Avenue
Major shutdown across Cape Town
One of the biggest planned disruptions will affect areas supplied by the Tygerberg bulk water system.
Residents in Century City, Tygerhof, Brooklyn, Koeberg, Ysterplaat, Summer Greens, Milnerton, Kensington, Factreton, Maitland, Goodwood, Athlone, Langa, WP Showgrounds, Pinelands, Thornton, Parow, Ruyterwacht and GrandWest are being warned of a planned interruption from 07:00 on Friday, 31 July, until 17:00 on Saturday, 1 August.
The shutdown will allow the City’s maintenance team to replace an offtake valve on the 1 220mm-diameter bulk water pipeline in Smart Street, Goodwood.
Most affected areas are expected to experience low water pressure or no water during the work.
Residents who continue to receive water are being asked to use it sparingly to help maintain supply across the network.
The City said water tankers will be made available for domestic use where necessary.
Water testing will also cause disruptions
The City will also conduct zero-pressure tests and conditional assessments in several areas as part of ongoing work to improve water network management.
The tests are scheduled as follows:
- Nomzamo: Tuesday, 28 July, from 09:00 to 16:00
- Khayelitsha high-level area: Tuesday, 28 July, from 09:00 to 16:00
- Diep River: Thursday, 30 July, from 09:00 to 16:00
The work includes additional investigations, such as checking pressure levels, analysing data, flushing pipelines and confirming the location of valves.
During these tests, some residents may experience low pressure, while others may have no water. The City said it is not possible to predict exactly which streets will be affected.
The testing forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy, which aims to improve pressure management across the network.
According to the City, better water pressure management can help reduce the risk of pipe bursts and water wastage.
Residents in all affected areas are encouraged to store sufficient water in clean, sealed containers before the scheduled work begins and to monitor updates from the City in case of changes to the maintenance schedule.