An above-average winter rainfall season has lifted the Western Cape’s dam levels from 29% at this time in 2017 and 52% in 2018 to the current 64.5%.
The province’s largest dam, the Theewaterskloof dam, rose from a dangerously low level of 10% in January 2018 to more than 70.3% now.
At this time in 2017, the water level was just 23%.
The Western Cape this week reported a significant improvement in dam levels across the province, including Clanwilliam dam, where sluices were opened this weekend to release some water.
The dam reported current water levels of 97.8%.
“This has been a remarkable winter rainfall season,” said provincial Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Minister Anton Bredell.
The Voëlvlei dam level reached 83.6% this week, compared with 63% last year and 79.6% last week, while the Bergriver dam’s water level increased to 101%, from 88% last year and 100% last week.
Despite this, the Western Cape’s interior regions, particularly the Karoo region, are still being monitored as extreme water stress remains.
“The major concern relates to the agriculture sector in these parts,” Bredell said.