The Department of Water and Sanitation says the downpours in the province the past few days has bumped up dam storage levels significantly, with Cape Town dam levels receiving a boost of nearly 10% .

The Department’s hydrological report of 12 June shows that all dams in the Western Cape are now on average 68,71% full.

A few months ago, there was concern after Western Cape dam levels dropped to below 50% on average.

RELATED: Western Cape Dams fall below 50%

The prediction of snow on high lying mountainous areas would be a bonus as this would add to the significant increase in storage that the Western Cape is experiencing.

The report indicates that 13 dams, including Clanwilliam, Ceres, Bulshoek, Karee, and Kwaggaskloof dams, increased by over 5% and no dams had a decrease in storage this week.

The Gouritz Catchment had some significant rainfall although the Coastal Belt gets most of their rain during the summer season. Ten of the dams in this catchment area at 100% of which most are Agricultural Dams.

The Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS), which supplies water to Cape Town and its environs, has seen a whopping increase of over 10%, edging closer to the 80% mark surpassing last year’s 63,92%.

The Department’s Western Cape Provincial Head Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa says the department is pleased with the way dam storage levels are being replenished across the province.

“In the last 2 weeks the combined average dams across the province have increased by 17%.”

Noteworthy is that the Olifants Doorn River Catchment, located on the West Coast of the province, has increased by over 30% from last year to 54,57%.

The Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest dam in the province accounting for significant water supply reached 76,67%  – a healthy yield for this time of the year.

As rain drenches large parts of the Western Cape, the Department has urged water users, especially those in rural areas, to harvest as much water as they can, so it can sustain them during dry periods.

Early indications are that the Cape Town water supply system has already received above average rainfall for at least April and May, with the first half of June also proving a boon for dam levels.