Maintenance work on water infrastructure will be undertaken in some key areas in the City Bowl, including Gardens, Vredehoek, the CBD and Woodstock.
The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate has warned that work such as pipe replacements, new connections and valve installations will result in scheduled outages.
Residents are urged to store enough water in clean, sealed containers and keep taps closed during the shut-offs to avoid damage when the supply returns.
The scheduled maintenance is expected to disrupt water supply in the following areas:
Gardens – long-term construction
From Monday, 20 October 2025 until 3 March 2026, a contractor will replace water pipelines in Higgo Crescent, Summerseat Close, Higgo Avenue and Trek Road.
This large-scale project will use open trench installations and may cause noise, traffic delays and general inconvenience.
Work will take place on weekdays between 08:00 and 17:00, with possible weekend and public holiday extensions. The City will issue notices ahead of any planned cuts.
Vredehoek – one-day water shut-off
Residents in Bradwell Road between Denholm Road and Florida Road (and possibly surrounding streets) will experience a water outage on Tuesday, 21 October from 09:00 to 18:00 while a new connection is added to the network.
Cape Town CBD – service road disruption
Also on Tuesday, 21 October, water will be shut off in parts of the CBD affecting Buitengracht Service Road between Whitford and Orphan Street (and possibly the immediate surrounds) from 09:00 to 18:00 for similar connection work.
Woodstock – repeated water outages
Woodstock will face several disruptions. Water will be temporarily cut off from Hyde Street to Sir Lowry Road between Searle Street and Russell Street, including Chapel, Gray, St Phillip’s, Frances, Pontac and Nelson Streets (and possibly immediate surrounds) on Wednesday, 22 October and again on Wednesday, 29 October, from 09:00 to 16:00.
These “test shut-offs” are preparation for the full-day outage scheduled for Wednesday, 5 November, when a bypass connection will be installed for upcoming road upgrades. No water will be available during these periods.
What residents should expect:
- Water may appear milky or discoloured once supply returns due to trapped air in the pipes, but should clear if left to stand.
- Timelines may be extended if work becomes more complex.
- Construction areas are off-limits to the public.
- Updates and water tanker locations (if needed) will be shared on the City’s official @CityofCTAlerts account on X.
“Careful consideration has been given to the planning of this work to ensure it is being done at a time that is least disruptive to the water supply,” the City added.
