Dam levels in the Western Cape currently stand at a combined total capacity of 66%, which is a ‘significant increase’ compared to when dam levels stood at approximately 49% at the same time last year.
As reported by The Voice of Cape Town on Monday, 4 March 2024, residents are still being urged to ‘continue using water sparingly, even as more rainfall is expected in the upcoming winter months’.
Also read: Department calls for vigilance with dams below two-thirds level
The dam with ‘the biggest water supply’ is the Theewaterskloof Dam, which sits at ‘more than 71% full’.
The dam levels in Cape Town have been recorded as being 72.2% on Friday, 1 March 2024, as stated on the Western Cape Government website.
With 44 main dams that supply the province, they collectively hold a ‘maximum storage capacity of 1 870.4 million cubic meters’.
The average storage across the Western Cape province was 65.8% on 26 February 2024.
Municipalities, however, will still ‘implement level 1 to 6 water restrictions for the foreseeable future’, to ease the pressure that is placed on the water supply.
The restrictions place ‘higher tariffs on water consumption’ to encourage residents to only use what they need. Some municipalities have resorted to other penalties, such as fines or imprisonment, for blatant water wastage.
Other factors that can have an impact on the water supply are climate change and water being lost to ‘evaporation, leaks in water supply pipes, and deliberate water wastage’.
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According to data from the Department of Water & Sanitation, the total full storage capacity (FSC) for all Western Cape Provincial State dams on 26 February 2024, was 1868.2 million cubic metres.
In addition, more rainfall is expected in the upcoming winter months.
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Picture: Riviersonderend River / Department of Water and Sanitation