City of Cape Town announces a nine-hour water shutdown

The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate will temporarily shut off the water supply in Masiphumelele and Sun Valley on Tuesday, 25 February. The planned maintenance work, scheduled from 09:00 to 18:00, aims to replace leaking fittings in the valve chamber that connects the Harrington pump station to the main water supply.

Infrastructure maintenance to ensure future supply in these parts of Cape Town

City officials have emphasised that this work is part of a broader infrastructure maintenance and upgrade programme. The initiative aims to prevent water losses and ensure long-term supply stability.

“This work forms part of the Water and Sanitation Directorate’s proactive infrastructure maintenance and upgrade programme, which ensures the future continuity of water supply by addressing the issue of unaccounted for water,” the city stated.

“The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience.”

Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to store water in advance and use it sparingly during the outage. To assist the community, the city will deploy water tankers in both Masiphumelele and Sun Valley.

What residents should expect

City officials have planned the work carefully to minimise disruptions. However, unforeseen complications could extend the duration of the outage.

“Sometimes the maintenance work can be more complex than anticipated, which means the work could take longer,” the city warned.

Additionally, residents may notice discoloured or milky water when the supply is restored. The city reassured the public that this was due to trapped air in the pipes and that the water would clear after standing for a short period.

How to prepare for the outage

Residents should take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the water supply disruption. Storing enough water in clean, sealed containers is advised, along with keeping taps closed to prevent potential damage when water returns.

For updates on the maintenance work and tanker locations, residents can follow the City’s X account, @CityofCTAlerts.

How do you think Cape Town should handle future water infrastructure challenges?

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