The City of Cape Town has announced planned water maintenance from 4 to 8 December 2023, resulting in temporary water supply disruptions in various areas.
These areas to be affected by Cape Town water maintenance
The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is undertaking critical maintenance work across several areas. This work is essential for the city’s water supply infrastructure and aims to benefit customers in the long run, the department explained in a statement.
However, it will lead to temporary water supply disruptions in several earmarked areas.
Significant areas including Somerset West, Stuart’s Hill, Martinville, Die Wingerd, Greenway Rise, Lionviham, and Bizweni in Somerset West will undergo zero-pressure testing.
This testing is scheduled to take place from 21:00 on Thursday, 7 December 2023, until 04:00 on Friday, 8 December 2023. Residents may experience low water pressure or no water supply during this testing period.
The installation of pressure management technology includes zero-pressure testing and step-testing.
This is crucial for identifying unmapped inflows before installing smart pressure-reducing valves. Furthermore, conditional testing ensures that these valves in the water supply network are effectively managing pressures.
Areas Affected by Water Supply Disruption:
- Bizweni (Somerset West): A test shut-off will occur from 10:00 to 14:00 on Monday, 4 December 2023.
- Part of Goodwood: Water supply shut-off from 09:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2023.
- Site C (Khayelitsha): Temporary shut-off from 09:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2023, with water tankers provided where needed.
- Large part of Gordon’s Bay (Dobson): Water shut-off from 08:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2023.
- Plumstead: Intermittent shut-off from 09:00 to 17:00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2023.
- Southfield: Intermittent shut-off from 09:00 to 17:00 on Thursday, 7 December 2023.
This maintenance work is a part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy, aimed at reducing pipe bursts and water wastage by managing water pressure more effectively.
Residents are advised to store sufficient water in advance and keep taps closed to prevent water loss or damage when the supply is restored. During the restoration period, water may appear discoloured or milky due to trapped air, which will clear upon settling.