- City of Cape Town announces planned water maintenance for 18 July 2024.
- Multiple areas, including Hout Bay and Khayelitsha, will experience disruptions.
- Residents are advised to store water in advance and follow specific precautions.
The City of Cape Town will conduct planned water maintenance on Thursday, 18 July 2024, affecting various parts of the city.
City of Cape Town issues details about planned water maintenance
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has scheduled critical maintenance work on the water supply infrastructure, which will result in water supply disruptions.
In a statement, the department explained that this maintenance aims to benefit customers by ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the water supply network.
“This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage,” the statement read.
These parts of Cape Town will be affected on Thursday, 18 July 2024
On Thursday, 18 July 2024, from 09:00 until 17:00, Hout Bay will be affected, including:
- Valley Road;
- Longkloof Road;
- Boskykloof Road;
- Forest Hill;
- North Oaks Avenue;
- Chestnut Drive;
- Blackwood Drive; and surrounding areas.
Additionally, from 10:00 until 16:00, Vredekloof, Welgelee, Arauna, Morgenster, St Kilda, Marlborough Park, Brackenfell Industrial, and Okavango Park will also experience water disruptions.
The city will carry out zero-pressure tests (ZPT) and conditional assessments on the water supply network in these areas.
These tests are part of the installation process for pressure management technology and are crucial for identifying any unmapped inflows before installing smart pressure-reducing valves (PRVs).
While some residents may experience low water pressure, others may have no water at all during the testing period.
Additional zone management investigations will be conducted to ensure the zone management infrastructure operates effectively and efficiently.
Although pressure fluctuations are expected, they will be minimised as much as possible.
What to do before and after planned water maintenance
Residents in the affected areas are advised to store enough water in clean, sealed containers before the maintenance work begins.
It is crucial to keep taps closed during the disruption to prevent any water loss or damage when the water supply is restored.
After the water supply is restored, residents might notice that the water is discoloured or appears milky.
This is due to trapped air in the pipes, which will clear up if the water is left to stand in a glass.
Residents can take several steps to mitigate the impact of these planned water supply disruptions:
- Store Water: It is advisable to store sufficient water in clean, sealed containers to cover your needs during the outage period.
- Tap Management: Keep all taps closed to avoid water loss or damage when the supply is restored, which could also lead to unexpected water surges.
- Stay Informed: Follow @CityofCTAlerts on X (formerly Twitter) for real-time updates on the maintenance work and information on water tanker locations, if applicable.