While dam levels around the country are starting to show signs of improvement, levels in the drought-stricken Western Cape continue to decline week-on-week.

According to a weekly report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation most of the dams in Gauteng are at capacity with many at an average level of 101%. The Free State is at 92.2%, Mpumalanga is at 81.7%, the Eastern Cape is at 68.1 while KwaZulu-Natal is at 64.7%.

Improving national average

The national average dam level, according to the Department is at 77.6% an improvement of 2.3% compared to 2017. However, the drought-stricken Western Cape continues to decline week-on-week with the average dam level standing at 17.6%.

Voelsvlei that supplies Cape Town has dropped from 14.2% last week to 14.1. Berg River, which also supplies the Mother City, dropped its level by 2% from 43.4% to 41.1%. The Clanwilliam Dam on the West Coast has dried up completely and the local municipality has dispatched to water tankers to supply local residents.

Winter rainfall may bring relief

“Unless Mother Nature intervenes in that province, affected municipalities are likely to impose tighter water restrictions soon,” the department said in a statement.

The City of Cape Town is under severe strain after imposing Level 6B water restrictions on its residents early this year. However, all may not be lost for the province as winter rains are expected to fall at the end of April or first week of May which should bring some relief to residents.

Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Sanitation is appealing to all South Africans not to be deluded by heavy rains in parts of the country and urged them to continue saving water.