Western Cape dams are ‘slowly’ on the rise, increase in average water levels
Slow progress is better than no progress.
While South Africans around the country may be freezing this winter, the Western Cape is still facing a water crisis. The province is still officially a “disaster area” after Premier Helen Zille made the call towards the end of May.
The province has graciously received few cold fronts over weekend weeks. The rains have brought some respite for local government who are still in crisis management over the water situation.
On the 29th of May the average levels of the province’s dams were 17.6% At the same time in 2016 the levels were more than twice that at 46%.
Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape says the drought remains across the entire province despite recent rainfall.
“The latest data does not reflect the weekend’s rainfall and it was pleasing to note reported rainfall measurements of up to 50mm in some areas in the Western Cape. This, in addition to good snowfall, should have a good impact on dam levels, however we are still a long way from where we need to be.”
Bredell hopes that the dam levels will recover to 75% on average by October. that means everyone needs to CONTINUE using water sparingly.
“The question remains, how much more rain will we get and will it fall in the catchment areas? We must ensure that dam levels recover, so when it starts to rain, consumers should not revert back to using water wastefully.”
Check out the latest figures for all the provinces dams in the table below. Remember, if you’re in the Western Cape, keep saving water!
| Dam | % Full This Week | % Full Last Week | % Full Last Year | |
| Cape Town System Dams Consist of : Wemmershoek-; Voëlvlei-; Steenbras Upper and Lower- ; Theewaterskloof Dam and Berg River Dam | ||||
| Cape Town System Dams (Combined) | 26.10 | 25.11 | 43.19 | |
| Berg River Catchment | 33.98 | 32.65 | 49.01 | |
| Breede River Catchment | 23.68 | 22.50 | 40.44 | |
| Gouritz River Catchment | 18.11 | 18.22 | 45.20 | |
| Olifants / Doorn River Catchment | 23.65 | 21.82 | 82.68 | |
| Western Cape State of Dams | 25.17 | 24.08 | 45.92 | |
