Western Cape dam levels 30 percent lower than in 2015

Dams in the Western Cape are nearly a third emptier than the same period last year, local government MEC Anton Bredell said on Thursday. Dams across the province were 61.4% full on average, he said. At the same time last year the figure was 90.9%.

F.J. Erasmus via Wikimedia Commons - Theewaterskloof dam

While dam levels continued to show marginal increases, Bredell said he remained concerned. "We have not yet had enough rain this year to be comfortable. All the major dams in the province, with the exception of the Clanwilliam dam, are still very far from ideal levels.

"These include the Voëlvlei dam (currently 69% full), the Theewaterskloof dam (53%) and the Brandvlei dam (57%). The Clanwilliam dam is currently 100% full and is the one highlight", he said.

The Cape Town system dams were at 61% capacity, compared to last year's 73%.

The Berg River catchment was at 72% (71% last year), Breede River catchment 57% (105%), Gouritz River catchment 40% (66%), and the Olifants/Doorns River catchment 99% (88%).

Bredell urged the public to use water sparingly to allow dam levels to recover before summer.

Source: News24

Read this report on News24Wire.com.