Dam levels in the Western Cape have risen to above 60% for the first time since 2016. However reports have emerged that another drought may be heading for the region.

Following good rains, the City of Cape Town reported last week that dam levels had increased by 1.3% to 60.1% of storage capacity.

However, the average water consumption also rose from 519 million to 527 million litres per day and the Department of Water and Sanitation is still urging the province’s residents, as well as the country at large, to continue to save water.

The City of Cape Town reported that is encouraged by the milestone that has been reached and thanks its water users for continuing to use as little water as possible. “This remains a priority effort to ensure that we build a buffer against the summer months ahead,” the city said in a statement.

 

Another El Nino?

A recent report stated that scientists have confirmed that another El Nino event is about to start in the tropical Pacific.

Water expert Professor Anthony Turton told CapeTalk that sea temperatures have started to rise across the ocean and this might affect Cape Town. He warned that the City of Cape Town should consider a resilience programme to mitigate the chance of being caught off guard by another drought.