Date:17 August 2026
SUBJECT:PLANNED WATER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION DUE TO EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON THE WIGGINS HIGH PRESSURE MAIN
Dear Colleagues and Students,
Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) wishes to inform all students and staff that the eThekwini Municipality has announced an interruption to the municipal water supply due to emergency repairs being carried out on the 750mm-diameter Wiggins High Pressure Supply Main near Wright Place.
The affected section of the main has been isolated to allow emergency repairs. Repair teams are currently on site conducting excavation and the necessary work to access and repair the burst section.
The repairs are expected to take at least 24 hours. However, following completion of the repairs, the Municipality has indicated that reservoir recovery may take approximately one week, depending on water demand and overall system conditions.
Impact on MUT
MUT falls within areas supplied by the affected water infrastructure. As a result, the University may experience:
- Reduced water pressure;
- Intermittent water supply;
- Temporary loss of water in certain areas of the campus; and Possible interruptions during the period of reservoir recovery.
The Municipality has advised that, depending on available storage, certain outlets may be temporarily shut to preserve water and assist with system recovery. Some affected areas may therefore only receive water during peak-demand periods while the system is being managed.
What We Request from the University Community
All staff, students, service providers and visitors are requested to:
- Use water sparingly before and during the interruption.
- Avoid unnecessary water usage.
- Store sufficient drinking water where possible.
- Cooperate with any temporary water management measures implemented by the University.
- Report any water leaks immediately to the Maintenance Department to prevent unnecessary water losses.
The University apologises for any inconvenience this planned interruption may cause and appreciates your patience and cooperation while these essential municipal works are undertaken.
Further updates will be communicated should there be any changes to the municipal maintenance schedule.
The University is monitoring the situation and will provide updates where necessary.
For general or technical queries, please contact:
Mr. Nkosi Zwelisha
Maintenance Department – Operations Directorate
Tel: 031 819 7119
Email: Nkosi.Z@mut.ac.za
Mr. Khayelihle Mbokazi
Maintenance Department – Operations Directorate
Tel: 031 819 7119
Email: Mbokazi.Khayelihle@mut.ac.za
Kind regards,
Operations Directorate (Maintenance Department)