The City of Cape Town is urging its residents to keep saving water, even though dams have finally reached the 100% mark.

The Theewaterskloof Dam, the Western Cape’s biggest, is overflowing for the first time since 2014. The dams supplying Cape Town with water are at an historic 100.8%

The latest dam level reading shows that levels increased by 1.3% to 100.8% in the last week. The fullest dams are Theewaterskloof at 101.7%, Steenbras Lower at 101% and Berg River at 100.7%. The remaining major dams are just under 100%.

The Mother City has come a long way since Day Zero. At the start of 2018, there was a possibility of Day Zero because at that stage the Theewaterskloof Dam was at 12%.

Capetonians were forced to adapt to new lifestyles as strict restrictions were imposed. But now the situation has changed.

“It is clear that as a society we have completely changed our relationship with water,” said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.

“The City’s water saving achievements have been internationally lauded, with the International Water Association naming Cape Town the world’s number 1 water saving city for reducing demand by 55% between 2015 and 2018 without resorting to intermittent supply.”

However, Limberg said full dams could give the impression that the water challenges were over, but rainfall this year was only just above average.

“Low consumption has also contributed to the recovery of the dams. Although there is some room to relax, we need to remain vigilant that water consumption remains at a water wise level and proceed diligently with additional water sources including groundwater, reuse and desalination as outlined in the City’s Water Strategy,” she said.