36-hour water shutdown to affect parts of Cape Town

Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will perform maintenance work temporarily disrupting water supply in several areas.

Outside tap leaking. Image: iStock

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will perform essential maintenance work, which will cause a water shutdown and disrupt the water supply in several areas. These planned upgrades aim to improve infrastructure reliability and reduce unaccounted-for water losses.

Scheduled work and affected areas by the water shutdown

On Saturday, 8 March, from 8:00 until 20:00 on Sunday, 9 March, the city will install two 535mm diameter water meters in a newly constructed chamber at the Tygerberg Reservoir. This work requires a temporary water shutdown, but an alternate water supply will be rerouted to affected areas at lower pressure. Some residents may notice slight water discolouration during the switch.

City Encourages Residents to Prepare

Residents in affected areas should store water in clean, sealed containers before the scheduled disruptions.

Residents should keep taps closed to prevent damage or water loss when the supply is restored. The city also advises that water may appear discoloured or milky after the work is completed due to trapped air in the pipes.

The city explained, “If left to stand in a glass, the appearance will become clear, like normal.”

Maintenance Work and Long-Term Benefits

This planned maintenance forms part of the city’s broader strategy to modernise Cape Town’s water infrastructure.

While the work is expected to proceed as planned, unforeseen complexities could lead to delays. All repair sites remain off-limits to the public for safety reasons. The city urges residents to follow @CityofCTAlerts on X for updates, including locations of water tankers if necessary.