Planned maintenance in some Cape Town areas will result in water supply interruptions.
The maintenance work will be conducted from Thursday, 15 January.
CAPE TOWN TO IMPLEMENT NINE-HOUR WATER OUTAGE
The City of Cape Town said planned maintenance work will result in water supply disruption to these areas:
Part of Kenilworth – The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply to the area bounded by Rosmead Avenue, McKinley Road, the railway line, Wetton Road and possibly surrounding streets in Kenilworth from 9:00 until 18:00 on Thursday, 15 January.
This will enable the maintenance team to do a 150mm diameter new connection on the water supply main in Rosmead Avenue, Kenilworth. The area will experience no water during this period.
Part of Oranjezicht – Similarly, a contractor will conduct a water pipeline replacement project on Upper Orange Street, Belmont Avenue, and Montrose Avenue in Oranjezicht from 9 January until 29 May. Site establishment will take place on 9 January 2026, and construction will commence on 19 January 2026.
The City of Cape Town said construction will be undertaken using pipe cracking technology, which may result in some noise, temporary traffic disruptions, and general inconvenience during the course of the works. Normal working hours will be from 8:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. Work may also be carried out on weekends and public holidays. Prior notice will be provided when water supply disruptions are expected to take place.
A NEW ‘DAY ZERO’?
Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has warned that persistently hot weather has led to a significant surge in water usage, prompting renewed appeals for residents to use water sparingly.
Dam levels across the metro are now almost 19% lower than they were at the same time last year, with overall storage currently sitting at 69.1%. These supplies will need to sustain the city until the next winter rainfall season.
Over the festive period, daily water consumption repeatedly exceeded the City’s target of keeping usage below 975 million litres per day.
The warning has revived memories of the Cape Town Water Crisis between 2015 and 2020, when prolonged drought pushed the city to the brink of “Day Zero” — the point at which municipal taps were expected to run dry. That crisis was ultimately averted through drastic water-saving measures, the introduction of new water sources, extensive public awareness campaigns, and improved winter rainfall.
Nevertheless, the experience remains a stark reminder of Cape Town’s fragile water security and the ongoing need for responsible water use.
