Cape Town residents in various parts of the city should prepare for an upcoming water supply shutdown, scheduled to run between Monday, 7 July and Thursday, 10 July 2025.
Cape Town water shutdown: Here’s everything you must know
The City of Cape Town has planned this as part of maintenance work to upgrade and repair the water infrastructure. However, during this time, affected residents will have no access to running water for several hours in the day, depending on their location.
According to the City, these temporary shutdowns are necessary to conduct work like replacing old pipes, installing valves, and preparing for future infrastructure upgrades.
Still, for households and businesses affected, this means hours with no water for drinking, cooking, or hygiene purposes.
Suburbs to be affected by planned water maintenance
Different suburbs will experience water outages on different days:
- Strand (Algoa Street, Gants Plaza and surrounds): No water from 09:00 to 20:00 on Monday, 7 July. A pipe replacement will be done, and water tankers will be dispatched in consultation with the local ward councillor.
- Brackenfell South (Crammix Road): Water will be shut off from 09:00 to 16:00 on Monday, 7 July for pipeline tie-in work. Motorists can expect traffic disruptions.
- Noordhoek (Main Road and nearby areas): On Tuesday, 8 July from 09:00 to 16:00, a bulk water connection will result in a full water outage.
- Claremont and Newlands (Talana Road and adjacent streets): A test shut-off will happen on Tuesday, 8 July from 09:00 to 18:00, followed by the actual shutdown on Thursday, 10 July during the same hours.
- Gordon’s Bay (Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, Avondrus Street, Bluegum Avenue): Expect disruptions from 09:00 to 16:00 on Tuesday, 8 and Wednesday, 9 July for final work on a pipe replacement.
- Kenridge, Durbanville Hills, Vergesig, Aurora: Water pressure testing on Tuesday, 8 July from 10:00 to 16:00 may result in low pressure or no water.
- Pinehurst, Langeberg Hoogte, Durbanville Meadows, Uitzicht: Similar testing on Thursday, 10 July from 10:00 to 15:00 could also lead to outages.
The City says this is part of a broader strategy to reduce water loss caused by pipe bursts and to prepare for long-term service improvements.
How to prepare for Cape Town water shutdown
Residents should take practical steps before the shutdown begins:
- Store water: Keep clean containers filled with enough water for your household needs—drinking, cooking, and sanitation—throughout the disruption.
- Close your taps: Ensure taps are shut off during the outage. This avoids accidental flooding when the supply resumes.
- Expect discoloured water: When the supply returns, water may initially appear milky or cloudy due to trapped air in the pipes. Letting it sit in a glass should help it clear up.
- Stay informed: Updates on tankers and water restoration will be shared on the City’s @CityofCTAlerts account on X (formerly Twitter).
While the City states it has planned the shutdown for a time they believe is least disruptive, residents and businesses should brace for interruptions to daily routines.
These disruptions, even if short-term, require preparation to avoid severe inconvenience.
