This season’s rains have helped – to some extent – to address the Western Cape’s water shortages, according to the latest data available on the state of the province’s dam levels, provided by the national Department of Water and Sanitation.
Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Minister Anton Bredell noted that, while increased rainfall over the past four weeks provided some relief, the province was still concerned that most of its biggest dams were still not filling up to the appropriate levels.
Most major dams in the province, including the Voëlvlei dam, which is currently 58% full, the Theewaterskloof dam, which is 49.8% full and the Brandvlei dam, which is 46.8% full, are still struggling to recover.
“The one highlight is that the Clanwilliam dam, which has recovered well, is sitting at 97% full this week,” said Bredell.
On average, across the entire system, dam levels in the major Western Cape catchment areas are 57.14% full.
In the corresponding period in 2015, these dams were 84.75% full.
“We hope we get more rain before the end of the winter season and continue to call on the public to use water wisely,” he noted.