The latest average dam level in the Western Cape is 75.3%, nearly 10 percentage points better than last year at this time and the highest level seen in years. Dams across the province have seen good increases thanks to a good winter rainfall season, although provincial authorities say there are still some parts of the province that have yet to receive the rain they need.

This is largely within the agriculture areas in the Karoo regions of the province.

Anton Bredell, the MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the Theewaterskloof dam, the largest in the province is 94.6% full.

Dams that supply the City of Cape Town with water, are on average over 95% full!

“It was wonderful to see in the past week how a few of the Clanwilliam dam sluices were opened to try to lower the dam’s water level which was above 102% full. Only a month or two ago the dam was less than 20% full. In the City of Cape Town consumers continue to use much less water than in years before the drought, a good sign in terms of responsible water use. This lower consumption has helped dams to recover too.”

Bredell continues to urge water users to use water sparingly and to report water leaks to local authorities promptly.

“With regards to water restrictions, it bears noting that levels of restrictions remain the decision of the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the same department in charge of dams and bulk water infrastructure in the country.”