Cape Town dam levels

Image via: Dam News on Twitter.

Cape Town dam levels: Western Cape breaks new ground

Due to recent rain, Minister Anton Bredell says Cape Town dam levels are on average 83.3% full and better off than they have been in years.

Cape Town dam levels

Image via: Dam News on Twitter.

Unseasonable and recent rains have continued to boost our dams across the Western Cape. The latest average dam level for the Western Cape is 66% and the City of Cape Town dams are on average 83.3% full.

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell says while there remains grave concern about some regions where the drought continues unabated, the bulk of the province is better off than it has been in years, in terms of water security.

Latest Cape Town dam levels for Monday 18 November

According to The City of Cape Town, the dams in and around the city form part of the Western Cape Water Supply System, which is an integrated and collectively managed system of dams, pump stations, pipelines, and tunnels. 

In addition to servicing Cape Town, the system supplies water to the Overberg, Boland, West Coast, and Swartland areas, and provides irrigation water for agriculture. 

Due to each dam size being different, the best indicator of overall water levels is the total quantity expressed as a percentage of the total capacity. This statistic is shown in the bottom line of the table.

See the reading for 18 November 2019: 

  • Voëlvlei dam – 89% full this week (2018: 92.6%. Last week: 89.3%)
  • Bergriver Dam 99.7% full this week (2018: 97.4%. Last week: 99.8%).
  • Theewaterskloof dam – 74.3% full this week (2018: 56%. Last week: 74.4%)
  • Clanwilliam Dam 87.6%. (2018: 91.08%. Last week: 90%) 

Areas of concern for water security 

Aside from the Cape Town dam levels, the Karoo and upper parts of the West Coast remain a concern with regards to water security. 

“The Karoo and upper parts of the West Coast remain our areas of concern. Elsewhere dams are much better off for this time of year than has been the case in the past five years,” said Bredell. 

“This does not however, mean people should use water carelessly. We urge continued and permanent responsible water usage. The province is a dry one and there is no certainty when it comes to future rainfall. We must manage the water we have as optimally as possible, at all times,” added Bredell. 

Bredell has urged residents and visitors to the Western Cape to continue to do their best to remain conscious of the dam levels, as the province heads into the hot summer months.

“We want to maintain a sustainable level of water consumption when it comes to water and we want to urge everyone to get onboard and assist us,” Bredell concluded.