What to do when the water goes off
A short checklist for planned shut-offs and unplanned bursts.
Before a planned shut-off: fill a few containers for drinking and cooking, and a bucket or two for flushing. Fill the kettle. If you rely on an electric geyser and the outage will last hours, switch it off at the mains so it does not run dry.
During an outage: keep taps closed so nothing overflows when supply returns, and avoid using the washing machine or dishwasher. Air in the pipes can make taps splutter when water comes back; let them run for a few seconds.
When it comes back: the first water may be discoloured. Run a cold tap until it clears before drinking.
If the water is off and no notice has been published, it may be a burst or a local fault. In Cape Town, report it to the City on 0860 103 089 and keep the reference number. Tap & Tank shows the City’s request number on each outage so you can quote it.
Our “water back on” alert tells you when the municipality marks the job resolved.