In a bid to keep the public informed on planned water maintenance, the City of Cape Town is reminding residents of the various platforms available for them to stay abreast of what is happening in their areas.
These platforms are regularly updated to keep locals informed about planned water maintenance, unplanned water repairs and disruptions that could temporarily affect them.
Planned water supply disruptions are scheduled in advance to allow for proactive maintenance or upgrades to infrastructure. Updates are typically published weekly to allow residents enough time to prepare for disruptions in the upcoming week.
Unplanned water supply disruptions occur as a result of unforeseen events, such as pipe bursts or urgent repairs. Work being done to restore water supply in affected areas is communicated daily basis, with progress updates published frequently throughout the day.
For both planned and unplanned disruptions, the City shares essential information, including the start time, location, affected areas, description of the cause or type of work being undertaken and the current status of repairs.
These updates are available on the City App, City Alerts, through the City’s call centre, and via the City’s WhatsApp channel.
On the City App, a daily water disruptions list is posted under “alerts” and updated in regular intervals. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Residents can also use the app to log service requests and log into e-Services to view or pay municipal bills.
By following @CityofCTAlerts on X, residents will be privvy to new posts on water disruptions and traffic updates. The one-way communication platform is used to broadcast official City updates with a summary of the most relevant information, as frequently as possible.
When calling the City’s call centre on 0860 103 089, after selecting your preferred language, residents can follow a few steps to get the latest information: press 2 for Water and Sanitation, Roads and Stormwater related complaints; press 1 for Water and Sanitation related complaints; and press 9 to listen to a list of areas experiencing planned or unplanned water repairs and disruptions in Cape Town.
To connect to the City’s WhatsApp channel, follow this link from your cellphone to stay updated: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va4u2lQLo4hckeStCE0t.
“In addition to the R224 million set aside to replace 50 km of pipes to improve water infrastructure, Water and Sanitation teams also repair unplanned pipe bursts daily,” said Zahid Badroodien, Mayco member for Water and Sanitation.
“Water maintenance and repairs are completed in the shortest time possible. However, there are times where delays may be experienced due to external factors such as safety risks to staff, limited accessibility of pipes due to underground services, tree roots and ground composition. In such cases, communication to residents is prioritised. By staying tuned in to these updates, residents can track the status of repairs easily, checking progress throughout the day until water supply is restored.”
Residents are advised to log a service request if they continue to experience low water pressure or disruptions once repairs are completed.
It is normal for water to appear discoloured briefly after pipe repairs. If this happens, let the water run clear; it is safe to drink.
Any air pockets in the pipeline will also dissipate as you let the water run. Often sand and air can become trapped in the pipes once work is completed, causing discolouration, which is resolved as the pipelines are flushed.
