Cape Town water outages are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, due to necessary maintenance work on the city’s supply infrastructure.
Cape Town water outages scheduled from Tuesday, 19 March 2024: These areas will be affected
The City of Cape Town has announced a series of planned water supply disruptions set to take place from 19 to 26 March 2024.
The disruptions are due to essential maintenance work that includes pipe, valve, and meter installations, repairs, and replacements across several areas.
The primary aim of this maintenance is to ensure the longevity and reliability of the city’s water supply system, addressing issues of unaccounted-for water and improving overall service delivery.
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The Cape Town water outages will affect these areas at specific dates and times, as follows:
- Helderberg and Southern Suburbs: These areas will experience a disruption from 06:00 on Monday, 18 March until 18:00 on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, to facilitate a major 1,500mm diameter water meter replacement in the pipeline from the Upper to the Lower Blackheath Reservoir.
- Manenberg: On Tuesday, 19 March 2024, from 10:00 until 16:00, the installation of a 200mm diameter water meter on the water supply main in Downs Way will cause lower than usual water pressure due to an alternate water supply being rerouted to the area.
- Victorskloof, Surcingle, Almond, and Monterey Roads in Hout Bay: Water supply to these roads and their immediate surroundings will be shut off from 09:00 until 17:00 on Wednesday, 20 March 2024, for the installation of a temporary bypass as part of a pipe replacement project.
- Philippi, Browns Farm, Marcus Garvey, and Schaapkraal: A significant maintenance activity, involving the replacement of a 500mm diameter water meter insert on the water supply main in Govan Mbeki Drive, Manenberg, will result in a water supply shutdown from 10:00 until 16:00 on Tuesday, 26 March 2024.
How to prepare for Cape Town water outages
The City has outlined several recommendations for residents to minimise the impact of the water outages.
Storing sufficient water in clean, sealed containers for use during the outage period and keeping taps closed to prevent water loss or damage when the supply is restored are among the suggested precautions.
Residents should also be aware that the water may appear discoloured or milky immediately after the restoration due to trapped air, which will clear if the water is allowed to stand.
It is important to note that all sites undergoing maintenance are considered construction sites and are off-limits to the public.
Cape Town dam levels drop to 68.5% on Monday, 18 March 2024
Ahead of the scheduled maintenance, Cape Town’s dam levels were reported at 68.5% on Monday, 18 March 2024, marking a 1.90% decrease from the previous week.
Despite early winter rains performing better than expected, the city’s water consumption has seen a notable increase, rising to 954 million litres per day.
Despite the early winter rains surpassing average expectations, the city’s water resource status is currently set to “Wise Water Use,” with levels expected to drop to 60% before the rainy season, which is anticipated to kick off in May 2024.
