Dam levels

The Departments of Local Government and Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape continue to take proactive steps to ensure greater water security for the Western Cape.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning delivers his two department’s budget speeches in the Western Cape Legislature today.

“In addition to the incredible work the department of Local Government has been doing over the past year in terms of providing water and boreholes and other support to communities in need, the department has allocated an amount of R2.5 million towards the development of a 15 Year Western Cape Integrated Drought and Water Response Plan. This amount will be part of the budget for the 2021/2022 year.”

In addition, Bredell says the department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the province continues to drive a program of clearing alien vegetation in the catchments in the upper Berg River.

“The work done to date continues to release up to 26.5 million cubic meters of additional water per year into the Western Cape river system.”

The latest average dam level for dams in the Western Cape is 53.5% (2020: 41.6%). The levels for dams providing water to the City of Cape Town is 72.6% (2020: 58.5%).

Bredell has urged water users to continue to use water responsibly.

“We are a lot better off for this time of year than we have been in previous years, but we need to continue to be water wise. There are still some areas that are in severe drought and our department along with that of agriculture, continues to monitor and provide support.”

The figures for major dams across the province:

Major Dam statistics

Voëlvlei dam –65.5% full this week (2020: 55.5%. Last week: 67.3%)

Bergriver Dam 74.8% full this week (2020: 68.1%. Last week: 75.9%).

Theewaterskloof dam – 76.6% full this week (2020: 54.7%. Last week: 77.7%)

Garden Route dam – 100% full this week (2020: 94.9%. Last Week: 100%)

Clanwilliam Dam 28.1%. (2020: 16%. Last week: 30.4%) 

Data per National Department of Water and Sanitation