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Western Cape dam levels lowest in SA at below 40%

While the likes of Gauteng and the Northern Cape are recording very healthy dam levels in the face of the current drought, the Western Cape currently has the lowest levels in the country at below 40%.

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation, current provincial dam levels are as follows:

  • Eastern Cape – 57.7%
  • Western Cape – 37.9%
  • KwaZulu-Natal – 47%
  • Free State – 56.7%
  • Gauteng – 86.6%
  • Limpopo – 63.7%
  • Mpumalanga – 65.9%
  • North West – 73.2%
  • Northern Cape – 93.7%

The City of Cape Town has been experiencing serious issues with residents not reducing water consumption, resulting in the city having to implement tighter water restrictions.

In comparison, the Vaal Dam, servicing parts of Gauteng including Johannesburg, sits at 63.4% this week, thanks the recent December and January rains.

“This is a good sign considering that late last year, the dam was just above 26%,” the department said.

The national dam storage average has increased by 0.8% to from 54.2% last week to 55% this week.

“This is a clear sign that the recent rains did not make that much of an impact on our dams and the Department of Water and Sanitation would like to caution that the drought is still upon us,” the department said.

Residents urged to adhere to water restrictions

The department added that while it commends some water users who have been selfless and have been true water ambassadors, this cannot be said about all residents and that water usage has been consistently above the target.

It urged residents to adhere to water restrictions which are still very much in place.

“The department is constantly monitoring the situation and municipalities are implementing additional measures including restrictions and tariff increases where necessary,” it said.

[Image – CC Roger]

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