The City of Cape Town has announced a planned water outage in Bellville and surrounding suburbs, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
Bellville water outage on Wednesday, 17 May 2023
In a statement released on Wednesday, the City’s water and sanitation directorate expressed regret for any inconvenience caused, emphasising that this critical work aims to improve the water supply infrastructure for the benefit of customers.
Residents residing in the affected areas are urged to take note of the upcoming work.
The directorate’s infrastructure maintenance program is aimed at ensuring future water supply and addressing the issue of unaccounted-for water. The City explained that extensive planning has been undertaken to minimize disruption during the water outage.
It is important to note that all sites where water and sanitation repairs and upgrades are carried out are classified as construction sites and are not accessible to the public. The nature of maintenance work can sometimes be more complex than anticipated, which may result in extended timelines.
After the water supply is restored, residents may experience temporary discolouration or a milky appearance in the water due to trapped air in the pipes. However, this will dissipate over time, and the water will return to its normal clarity.
Specifically, the areas affected by the planned shut-off include:
- Bellville CBD
- Triangle Farm
- Bellville South
- Labiance
- Greenlands
- Glenhaven
- Stikland
An urgent dummy shut-off will be conducted on the main water supply pipeline in these areas to assess the most effective approach for reducing the impact during the actually planned shut-off.
Alternate water supply routes will be established where feasible, the City said.
The water supply to these areas will be disrupted from 21:00 on Wednesday, 17 May 2023 overnight until Thursday, 18 May 2023, at 04:30.
To prepare for the planned water supply maintenance, residents are advised to store an adequate amount of water in clean, sealed containers for use during this period.
It is also recommended to keep taps closed to prevent water loss or damage when the water supply is restored.