Five dams that provide residents with potable drinking water in the area of Cape Town have reached full capacity.
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This is according to a report based on information from the City of Cape Town and the National Department of Water and Sanitation, which routinely monitor dam levels to gauge the availability of water in the area and decide whether water restrictions for locals and businesses are required.
The dams in and around Cape Town form part of the Western Cape Water Supply System, an integrated and collectively managed system of dams, pump stations, pipelines and tunnels.
This system provides irrigation water for agriculture as well as water to towns in the Overberg, Boland, West Coast and Swartland regions, in addition to serving Cape Town.
In total, 890 144 Ml of water has been stored, or 99.1% of the dams’ capacity. These numbers represent a significant improvement over the 75.3% total storage figure from the same time last year.
The province has recently experienced heavy rainfall, which has significantly increased the dam levels. This report follows those events.
The current dam levels are a stark contrast to the situation a few years ago when Cape Town nearly reached ‘Day Zero’ – a term used to describe when the city’s dams would be so low that they would turn off the taps in homes and businesses, and residents would have to queue for water.
The residents of Cape Town are still very aware of ‘Day Zero.’
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The city was on the verge of becoming the first major city in the world without access to clean drinking water.
Strict water restrictions and a coordinated effort by residents to conserve water helped avert the crisis.
The current dam levels are evidence of Cape Town residents’ tenacity and the success of water conservation efforts.
The City of Cape Town, however, urged citizens to conserve water while there is still water to spare. Water conservation is still important despite the dams being in good condition.
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City urges residents to conserve water, irrespective of rising dam levels
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