Dam levels across the Western Cape have declined further and is currently sitting at 28.7% full. The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs, and Development Planning in the Western Cape, Anton Bredell, said that the current dam levels indicate that an estimated 16% of usable water is left. Last week dam levels stood at 29.7%.
“We remain very concerned about this ongoing drought that is continuing to afflict the Western Cape and we are doing what we can within our powers to manage the situation as we have been doing for the past number of years,” Bredell said.
Bredell added that over the past few months water usage rose in some smaller regions in the province.
“In a region like the Central Karoo, despite requests to keep water use down, we saw water use triple placing towns like Prince Albert under huge pressure. However, in Beaufort-West and Cape Town, and largely across the province, indications are that the situation regarding water usage remained relatively stable and we want to thank the public and especially visitors for their help in this regard,” he said.
Areas in the province currently who are severely affected by the drought include the central Karoo towns of Beaufort-West, Prince Albert, Kannaland and Laingsburg and further afield, the City of Cape Town as well as the Matzikama region on the West Coast.
“The disaster management centre continuously revises the contingency plans and manages the situation along with other stakeholders both in government and the private sector. These plans are aimed at ensuring no community will run out of the water. Contingencies for key institutions like hospitals are also being implemented and revised where needed,” Bredell said.
Bredell urged the public to continue to save water in the coming months.
Read More on water coverage:
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