Harare to Shut Down Water Supply for Three Days

By Southerton Business Times Reporter HARARE — August 21, 2026

The City of Harare will shut down water supplies across the city for three days from Friday morning to allow urgent repairs and cleaning at key water infrastructure. The planned Harare water shutdown will run from 6 am on Friday, August 21, to 6 pm on Sunday, August 23, after the council postponed the works that were initially scheduled for August 14 to 16. The disruption will affect residents across Harare as engineers carry out work at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works and Warren Control Pump Station.

According to the council, Morton Jaffray will undergo a partial shutdown, while Warren Control Pump Station will be completely shut down to facilitate urgent leak repairs and reservoir cleaning.

“Consequently, water supply to the entire City of Harare will be affected during this period,” the council said.

The announcement means households, businesses, schools, hospitals and other institutions supplied by the municipal water system are expected to experience significant interruptions during the three-day maintenance period.

The council has urged residents to prepare for the Harare water supply disruption by storing sufficient water before the shutdown begins. Residents have also been advised to keep stored water in clean, covered containers and use it sparingly throughout the maintenance period. The council expects normal water supplies to resume at 6pm on Sunday, August 23, once the planned works have been completed.

The latest shutdown comes as Harare continues to face challenges involving ageing water infrastructure, leaks, limited treatment capacity and pressure on municipal water supplies. The maintenance at Morton Jaffray is particularly important because the facility is central to Harare's municipal water treatment system. Previous disruptions at the plant have affected water availability across the capital. The latest announcement has also prompted renewed calls for residents to plan ahead, particularly households without private boreholes or alternative water sources.

A recent report on the planned shutdown confirmed that the three-day interruption is intended to facilitate urgent repairs and cleaning at the city's main water facilities. Residents should therefore ensure that essential water requirements are covered before the shutdown starts at 6 am on Friday. Households are likely to need water for drinking, cooking, bathing, toilet use and other basic domestic activities during the interruption.

Businesses that depend heavily on municipal water supplies have similarly been advised to make contingency arrangements to minimise disruption to operations. The council's stated target is to complete the work and begin restoring supplies by 6 pm on Sunday. However, because water networks require time to refill and regain pressure after major shutdowns, some areas could experience a gradual return to normal supply rather than an immediate restoration, depending on local network conditions.

For now, Harare residents have been urged to conserve available water and prepare for the scheduled three-day interruption.

Harare water shutdown