Dams see continued improvement

The Western Cape dam levels continue to see good increases thanks to an excellent and above average winter rainfall season.

The average level for the province is currently 64.5%. Last year at this time the level was 52% and in 2017 at the same time the level for the province was 29%.

“The biggest dam in the province, the Theewaterskloof dam, is currently above 70% (2017: 23%). In January 2018 the dam was at 10% and dropping fast. This has been a remarkable winter rainfall season,” says the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.

Bredell says the province has seen a huge improvement in dam levels across entire province including Clanwilliam Dam on the West Coast where sluices were opened this weekend to release some water.

“We continue to monitor the interior regions where extreme water stress remains, this is largely in the Karoo region of the Western Cape. The major concern relates to the agriculture sector in these parts.”

Bredell has repeated the call for consumers to continue to use water responsibly.

“Using less water must become a permanent way of life. The resource will be under pressure permanently due to factors like climate change, population growth and urbanisation. We must learn to do more with less.”

Major Dam statistics

Voëlvlei dam – 83.6% full this week (2018: 63%. Last week: 79.6%)

Bergriver Dam 101% full this week (2018: 88%. Last week: 100%).

Theewaterskloof dam – 70.3% full this week (2018: 43%. Last week: 66%)

Clanwilliam Dam 97.8%. (2018: 99.9%. Last week: 91.6%) 

The latest dam level data per the National Department of Water and Sanitation