Cape Town residents warned of major water disruptions this week
· The South African
The City of Cape Town has announced a series of planned water shutdowns, maintenance projects and pressure tests that will affect multiple suburbs across the metro over the coming days.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate said the work forms part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades and water demand management measures aimed at improving long-term system reliability and reducing water losses.
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Residents in affected areas have been advised to store enough water in clean, sealed containers ahead of the scheduled work.
Major water shutdown at Cape Town’s Wemmershoek plant
One of the largest planned interruptions will involve the shutdown of the Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
The plant will be offline from 08:00 for urgent electrical repairs affecting the facility’s power supply.
The shutdown will impact:
- City of Cape Town bulk water supply
- Stellenbosch Municipality
- Drakenstein Municipality
- Private users connected to the Wemmershoek pipeline
The City said measures have been put in place to minimise disruptions.
Areas affected by planned water shutdowns
OranjezichtTuesday, 12 May | 08:00 – 20:30
Affected areas:
- Belmont Avenue
- Rose Mount Avenue
- Sir George Grey Street
- Wynyard Street
- Sophia Street
Thursday, 14 May | 08:00 – 20:00
Affected areas:
- Belmont Avenue
- Forest Road
Additional roadworks will also affect Myrtle Street between 11 and 22 May.
BergvlietTuesday, 12 May | 09:00 – 19:30
Affected areas:
- Starke Road
- Airlie Road
- Glen Alpine Road
- Childrens Way Road
- Zomerlust Road
- Surrounding areas
Tuesday, 12 May | 09:00 – 16:00
Affected areas:
- Parts of Philippi
- Brown’s Farm
- Nyanga
- Surrounding areas
Wednesday, 13 May | 09:00 – 16:00
Sunday, 17 May | 08:00 – 16:00
Affected areas:
- Paarden Eiland Road between Neride Street and Marine Drive
- Neride Street
- Surrounding areas
Wednesday, 13 May | 08:00 – 17:00
Affected areas:
- Village Lane
- Driefontein Lane
- Nthombeni Way
- Surrounding areas
Wednesday, 13 May | 08:00 – 18:00
Affected areas:
- Skaife Street
- Darling Street
- Andrews Road
- Union Street
- Orange Street
- King Street
- Campbell Street
Wednesday, 13 May | 09:00 – 16:00
Residents may experience intermittent supply disruptions during pressure and flow monitoring work.
Wednesday, 13 May | 09:00 – 16:00
Possible intermittent water supply disruptions during infrastructure testing.
Thursday, 14 May | 09:00 – 16:00
Residents may experience intermittent water supply disruptions.
Thursday, 14 May | 10:00 – 15:00
The area is expected to have no water during maintenance on a pressure-reducing valve.
Thursday, 14 May | 08:00 – 18:00
Affected areas:
- Canterbury Road
- Seven Oaks
- Krieger Road
- Surrounding areas
Zero-pressure tests and water pressure investigations
The City will also conduct zero-pressure testing and conditional assessments in several areas.
Tuesday, 12 May09:00 – 16:00
- Dunoon
- Racing Park
- The Stables
- Killarney Gardens
- Table View
09:00 – 16:00
- Sun Valley
10:00 – 17:00
- Bantry Bay
- Clifton
- Camps Bay
- Fresnaye
10:00 – 16:00
- Van Riebeeckshof
- Oude Westhof
- Kanonberg
- Kanonberg Lifestyle Estate
10:00 – 17:00
- Bantry Bay
- Fresnaye
- Gardens
- Oranjezicht
- Tamboerskloof
The City said some residents may experience low pressure or temporary water outages during the testing process, although it cannot predict exactly which streets will be affected.
Officials said the work forms part of Cape Town’s broader Water Demand Management Strategy to reduce pipe bursts and water wastage.