Water shutdown hits Durban this week: Check if your area is affected

Residents and businesses across parts of Durban are being reminded to prepare for a planned 48-hour water shutdown starting tomorrow.

The major interruption to the water supply will begin at 06:00 on Tuesday, 29 September, and is scheduled to continue until 06:00 on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

The shutdown will affect parts of the Inner West, Central and South regions of Durban as work continues on the city’s Southern Aqueduct Pipeline Upgrade Project.

With the interruption now just hours away, residents in affected areas are being urged to make sure they have enough water stored for essential use.

When will the Durban water shutdown happen?

The planned shutdown will run for 48 hours, from:

• Start: 06:00 on Tuesday, 29 September
• End: 06:00 on Thursday, 1 October

The eThekwini Municipality says the interruption is necessary to allow contractors to carry out construction and tie-in work on two major connection chambers in Westville.

The work forms part of Work Package 6 of the Southern Aqueduct Pipeline Upgrade Project.

Why is the water being switched off?

The shutdown is needed to allow contractors to carry out connection work on the Southern Aqueduct as part of the major upgrade of Durban’s bulk water infrastructure.

The project has already reached several milestones. Work Packages 1 and 3 have been completed and commissioned, while part of Work Package 2 between Shallcross and Northdene has also now been commissioned.

Work Package 2 includes about 3.8km of new steel pipeline, comprising 2.5km of 1 200mm-diameter pipe and 1.3km of 1 400mm-diameter pipe.

The new infrastructure is designed to add capacity and, importantly, provide redundancy in the network. This means the municipality will have greater flexibility to isolate sections of the ageing existing pipeline when maintenance or repairs are needed, rather than relying as heavily on a single pipeline.

According to eThekwini Municipality, the completed WP2 infrastructure will improve security of supply to reservoirs serving approximately 300 000 people in the central and southern parts of Chatsworth, as well as strengthen supply security to downstream reservoirs in uMlazi and Folweni, which serve about 500 000 people.

The new pipeline is expected to have a lifespan of around 50 years.

The wider Southern Aqueduct project involves a 24km bulk pipeline supplying 33 reservoirs. Once completed, it is expected to strengthen the bulk water network serving approximately 1.2 million residents in Durban’s southern and central areas.

However, several sections of the project are still under construction. Work Packages 4, 5 and 6 remain ongoing, which is why further planned interruptions will be necessary as construction and connections continue.

Which Durban areas will be affected?

The shutdown will affect a large number of suburbs and communities supplied by reservoirs and pump stations in the Pinetown South, Central and South regions.

Pinetown South

Affected areas include parts of:

• Westville
• Berea West
• Dawncliffe
• Klaarwater
• Phumphele
• St Wendolins
• Savannah Park
• Nsizwakazi
• Regency Park
• Latana
• Hlanganisa
• Gwala Road
• Sarjoo Road
• Intake
• Nagina Township
• Khoseleni
• Sthundu Hills
• Dambuza
• Mawelewele
• Progress Road

Westville Hospital, Pavilion Shopping Centre, Westway Office Park and Westwood Mall are also among the locations supplied by affected infrastructure.

Central region

The shutdown will also affect numerous areas around Queensburgh, Chatsworth and surrounding communities.

These include:

• Farningham Ridge
• Hillary
• Malvern
• Mount Vernon
• Queensburgh
• Queensmead Industrial
• Shallcross
• Moseley Park
• Northdene
• Nirvana Hills
• Coedmore
• Umbilo
• Umhlathuzana
• Arena Park
• Bayview
• Chatsworth
• Crossmoor
• Enhlanzeni
• Klaarwater
• Montford
• Moorton
• Risecliff
• Silverglen
• Welbedagt
• Westcliff
• Woodhurst
• Woodlands
• Yellowwood Park

The municipality’s full affected-area list also includes areas supplied through the Chatsworth, Shallcross, Klaarwater and Westcliff reservoirs.

South region

Parts of Umlazi, Ensimbini and Folweni will also be affected.

In Umlazi, the interruption includes sections supplied by Umlazi 1/1A through to Umlazi 6, covering areas including A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, Z, AA, BB and CC.

Affected areas supplied by Ensimbini and Folweni reservoirs include:

• Ensimbini
• Ntabankulu
• Draaihoek
• Mahlabathini
• Mangamazini
• Mkhazini
• Folweni A, B and C
• Golokodo
• Dodoza
• Isiphingo Esincane

Because the interruption is scheduled to last two days, residents in affected areas are being advised to store enough water ahead of the shutdown.

This is particularly important for households that rely entirely on municipal supply and for businesses that need water to continue operating.

Residents should consider storing enough water for drinking, cooking, flushing toilets and other essential household needs before 06:00 on Tuesday.