48-hour water shutdown planned across parts of Durban

Residents and businesses across parts of Durban are being warned of a planned 48-hour interruption to the water supply next week.

The water shutdown will run from 06:00 on Tuesday, 29 September, until 06:00 on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

The interruption is required for construction and tie-in work on the Southern Aqueduct pipeline in Westville.

The work forms part of the City’s Southern Aqueduct Pipeline Upgrade Project and will affect parts of the Inner West, Central and South regions.

Why is the water being shut off?

The shutdown will allow contractors to construct and connect two major connection chambers in Westville as part of Work Package 6 of the project.

The Southern Aqueduct upgrade is being completed in several work packages.

Work Packages 1, 2 and 3 have already been completed and commissioned, while Work Packages 4, 5 and 6 remain under construction.

Once completed, the project is expected to strengthen the City’s bulk water network and reduce the risk of unplanned failures, water losses and lengthy interruptions caused by emergency repairs to ageing infrastructure.

The upgraded network will reportedly serve approximately 1.2 million people.

Which Durban areas will be affected?

The affected areas span the Pinetown South, Central and South regions.

Pinetown South system

Areas supplied by the following reservoirs and pump stations will be affected by the water shutdown:

Lea Drive Reservoir: Westville Shopping Centre and Jan Hofmeyer.

Salisbury Reservoir: Westville, including Berea West, Westville Hospital, Pavilion Mall, Westway Office Park and Westwood Mall.

Dawncliffe Reservoir: Dawncliffe.

N-Pump Station: Klaarwater, Phumphele, St Wendolins, parts of Nsizwaqkazi, Savannah Park Phases 1 and 2, as well as Wiltshire Factories.

Washington Heights (Reservoir P): Klaarwater, Nsizwaqkazi, Regency Park, Latana, Hlanganisa, Gwala Road, Nsizwakazi, as well as Sarjoo Road.

Intake Reservoir (Reservoir Q): Demat, Progress Road, Mawelewele, Intake Road, Luganda, parts of Nagina Township, Khoseleni, Sthundu Hills, Dambuza, parts of Bell Tower Road and Grasmere Road, as well as Mpongo Road.

Central region

Affected areas include:

• Northdene 1 & 2: Farningham Ridge, Hillary, Malvern, Mount Vernon, Queensburgh, Queensmead Industrial and Shallcross
• Firwood Reservoir: Farningham Ridge, Malvern, Moseley Park, Mount Vernon, Nirvana Hills, Northdene and Queensburgh
• Ridley Park Reservoir: Coedmore, Farningham Ridge, Hillary, Malvern, Memorial Park, Mount Vernon, Queensburgh, Umbilo, Umhlathuzana and Umkhumbaan
• Chatsworth 4 Reservoir: Arena Park, Bulbul, Chatsworth Town Centre, Crossmoor, Enhlanzeni, Ezinyathini, Klaarwater, Kwamgaga, Montford, Moorton, Phumphele, Risecliff, Shallcross, Silverglen, Welbedagt East and West, Westcliff and Woodhurst
• Shallcross Reservoir: Buffels Bosch, Burlington Heights, Moseley Park, Queensburgh, Savannah Park and Shallcross
• Harinager: Shallcross
• Klaarwater: Crossmoor, Klaarwater, Moorton, Moseley Park, Phumphele, Savannah Park, Shallcross, as well as St Wendolins Ridge
• Chatsworth 1 Reservoir: Bayview, Bulbul, Croftdene, Havenside, Kharwastan, Phumphele, Silverglen, Umhlathuzana, Westcliff and Woodhurst
• Chatsworth 2 Reservoir: Arena Park, Bayview, Chatsworth Town Centre, Havenside, Kharwastan, Malvern, Phumphele, Silverglen, Umhlathuzana, Westcliff and Woodhurst
• Chatsworth 3 Reservoir: Arena Park, Chatsworth Town Centre, Croftdene, Montford, Risecliff, Silverglen, Welbedagt West and Westcliffe
• Westcliff: Bayview, Coedmore, Havenside, Phumphele, Umhlathuzana, Woodhurst, Woodlands, as well as Yellowwood Park

South region

The shutdown will affect several areas supplied through Umlazi, Ensimbini and Folweni reservoirs.

Umlazi 1/1A: Umlazi A, B, C, D, E, F, V, S as well as T sections.

Umlazi 2: Umlazi M, L, J, K, H, R, Q, P, BB, CC, AA, F, G, W, C, D as well as N sections.

Umlazi 3: Umlazi J, K and L sections.

Umlazi 4: Umlazi X (Malukazi), Y, as well as Z sections.

Umlazi 5: Umlazi AA, BB and Z sections.

Umlazi 6: Umlazi BB, CC and AA sections.

Ensimbini 1 & 2: Ensimbini, Ntabankulu, Draaihoek, Mahlabathini, Mangamazini and Mkhazini.

Folweni 1 & 2: Folweni A, B and C, Golokodo, Dodoza, as well as Isiphingo Esincane.

Because the shutdown is expected to last around 48 hours, affected residents and businesses are advised to store enough water for essential use during the interruption.