Statement by Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development

WC Water Update

1 October 2018

Good winter rainfall has seen the level of dams feeding the City of Cape Town increase from below 16% on average to 100% and above in some cases.

Only the Theewaterskloof dam is still lagging, but it too has seen a marked improvement over the past three months. The dam, the biggest in the Western Cape, is currently 57.6% full. Its level increased by 2% over the past week.

Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the average dam level in the Western Cape has now increased to 65%.

“Last year at this time the average level was 36%. And we saw hardly any further rainfall last year from October. So that was the level more or less, we had to work with over the summer months of 2018. Looking ahead at the coming summer period, we are in a much better position this time around. That being said, we remain concerned about the Karoo region of the province where the situation remains quite serious.”

Bredell says levels of water restrictions are already being relaxed in some areas and consumers can contact their local authorities in this regard.

“However, we want to recommend that consumers continue to use water wisely despite the situation having improved. Demand is sure to pick up again in the coming months and we need to avoid falling back into potentially water wastage habits. Moving forward, it is to the benefit of all that we use the limited resources we have as optimally as we can.”  

Major Dam statistics

Theewaterskloof dam – 57.6% full this week (2017: 28%. Last week: 55.7%)

Voëlvlei dam – 95% full this week (2017: 27%. Last week: 92%)

Bergriver Dam 100% full this week (2017: 64%. Last week: 99%).

Clanwilliam Dam 100%. (2017: 41%. Last week: 100%) 

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

ENDS.