Durban to face 48-hour bulk water reduction as Southern Aqueduct upgrade begins

eThekwini Municipality has scheduled a planned reduction in bulk water supply across parts of Durban while preparatory work begins on a major pipeline upgrade. The shutdown of the Southern Aqueduct pipeline will run from 06:00 on Wednesday, 19 August until 18:00 on Friday, 21 August 2026.

What is being done and why

The City’s Water Operations Department will shut down the 950mm pre-stressed concrete pipeline (PCP) on the Southern Aqueduct to allow contractors to carry out preparatory work for the Southern Aqueduct Pipeline Upgrade Project. The municipality said the shutdown was originally scheduled for 12 August but was postponed because of inclement weather.

The existing 1 200mm steel pipeline on the aqueduct will remain operational and will continue supplying water to the Western, Central and Southern regions during the shutdown.

Sectional repair work is also anticipated at the intersection of Perth Road and Hi Wycombe Road in Westville.

Areas that could be affected

The municipality warned that reservoir levels will be monitored and that some reservoir outlets may be temporarily closed to preserve storage and reduce recovery time. The impact will vary depending on local demand and reservoir levels.

Listed affected areas include parts of the Central Region, South Region and the Pinetown South System. Specific reservoirs and the areas they supply named by the municipality include:

• Central Region: Northdene 1 & 2, Firwood, Ridley Park, Chatsworth 1–4, Shallcross, Harinager, Klaarwater, Westcliff and the suburbs they serve such as Farningham Ridge, Malvern, Mount Vernon, Queensburgh, Chatsworth suburbs and others.
• South Region: Umlazi 1–6, Ensimbini 1 & 2, Folweni 1 & 2 with multiple Umlazi sections and surrounding communities listed by the municipality.
• Pinetown South System: N-Pumpstation, Washington Heights (Reservoir P), Intake Reservoir (Reservoir Q) and the local areas they serve, including Klaarwater, Nsizwaqkazi, Regency Park, Mawelewele area, Demat and others.

Advice to residents and businesses

The municipality urged residents and businesses in the named areas to plan and store enough water for essential needs before the work begins. It said it will continue to monitor reservoir levels and demand during the shutdown and may adjust reservoir operations to protect available water storage.

Nature of the interruption

The City described the event as a planned reduction in bulk supply rather than a blanket shutdown, meaning effects will differ across locations depending on local reservoir levels and demand.

Residents in affected zones are advised to take precautionary measures ahead of the scheduled shutdown window.