The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has expressed satisfaction with the recent rainfall received in and around Cape Town, as it anticipates that these showers will help replenish dams within the surrounding catchment areas.
The collective state of dams in the Western Cape Province, known as the Western Cape State of Dams, has undergone a slight increase and presently stands at 91.38%. This is in comparison to the previous week’s 91.12%.
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Notably, the majority of the river catchments across the province maintain a steady and robust water yield. Regions such as Olifants-Doorn and Gouritz River Catchments are performing commendably, with several dams hovering above the 90% mark.
The specific dam levels paint an encouraging picture:
- Theewaterskloof Dam: 100.43%
- Clanwilliam Dam: 99.72%
- Brandvlei Dam: 77.43%
- Berg River Dam: 100.38%
- Wolwedans Dam: 99.72%
Ms Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, the head of the DWS Western Cape, expressed her satisfaction with the current pace of dam replenishment; however, she emphasised the fact that South Africa faces water stress as a nation. Bila-Mupariwa urged all water consumers in the Western Cape to maintain a mindful approach to water usage.
‘We urge all water users in the Western Cape to use water sparingly. It is more critical now for our province to be circumspect in its water consumption because our rains are mostly experienced in the winter season,’ she said.
The DWS, in collaboration with governmental entities and water management organisations, said that it remains committed to monitoring the hydrological outlook in the Western Cape Province. They reportedly stand ready to make any necessary adjustments to ensure the security of the region’s water supply in fulfilment of their mandate.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook