Cape Town’s dam levels are on average 75% full, with three of the six dams supplying the Mother City with drinking water having breached the 80% mark. Wemmershoek is sitting at 100%.

The favourable-looking dam levels follow good early winter rain, but the City has reminded residents that they should continue saving water.

Cape Town remains a water-scarce region, and rainfall patterns are unpredictable because of climate change.

The City says dam levels need to be 80% or more by the time the next Annual Operating Analysis (AOA) is done by the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in November.

This is to prevent them from implementing water restrictions on a municipality.

The good news is that the Metro is nearing the 80% mark rapidly, and it is only July.

Dam levels are now 1,9% higher compared to the same time last year.

However, MMC for Water and Sanitation Zahid Badroodien says one good storm in May doesn’t undo a changing climate.

“Our dam levels rose from around 44% to above 70% in a matter of days — proof of how unpredictable our rainfall has become. We are not waiting for the rain, and we are not waiting for anyone else. That is why this administration is investing R570 million in our New Water Programme this financial year, and why the Faure New Water Scheme — a public-private partnership — is being released to market. Cape Town is funding its own water security.”

Badroodien says that investment can only pay off if residents keep using water wisely.

Current Water usage is at 843 million litres of water a day (MLD),  17 MLD less than the winter usage target of 860 MLD.

Residents are also urged to report burst municipal pipes immediately to the City’s formal channels:

• Call 086 010 3089 (select option 2)
• SMS 31373
• WhatsApp 060 018 1505
• Email water@capetown.gov.za