In an effort to help reduce water usage to 50 litres per person per day and beat Day Zero, the City of Cape Town is rolling out further pressure testing across the metro.
Work is scheduled to take place from this evening from 8pm to 4am in the Cape Town CBD, Foreshore and Zonnebloem areas which are bounded by the N1 Freeway and Heerengracht Road to the north, Bree Street to the west, Searle Street to the east and Keizersgracht Street to the south.
By creating automated pressure zones, the City will be able to adjust water pressure remotely and work more efficiently.
The City has recently successfully tested areas including the Cape Town CBD, Green Point, Paarden Eiland, Woodstock, Salt River, Epping, Delft and Brooklyn. Testing is happening across the metro.
City Mayco member for informal settlements, water and waste services; and energy, Xanthea Limberg said: “The pressure management programme started in 2004. There are more than 115 automated zones across the city which are being prioritised based on their leak and burst rates. Areas with high water pressure typically experience more leaks and bursts.
“Other areas will be informed of supply disruptions in due course. At least 25 areas across the city have been identified that could benefit from this technology.
"Affected areas are requested not to stockpile large volumes of municipal water as the service interruptions are not expected to be in effect for long periods."
The pressure management will generally lower consumption by reducing the rate at which water flows to properties, and also reduce the risk of leaks and pipe bursts by better ensuring that pressure remains within levels that reduce stress on the infrastructure.
The City has appealed to residents to keep all taps closed and store five to ten litres of water for essential purposes during this time and not store an excessive amount of municipal water.