Western Cape dam levels reach nine-year high

Inclement weather experienced in the Western Cape in the past week saw

dam levels in the province reach a nine-year high.

PICTURE: UCT 

In a statement, the National Department of Water and Sanitation said the

Western Cape’s Water Supply System, which supplies the province’s six

largest dams, has reached the 90% capacity. The last time dam levels in

the Western Cape reached this percentage was back in June 2014.

Theewaterskloof dam, which supplies water to those residing in the Cape

metro, sits at 96%. At the same time last year, the dam stood at 76.7%.

The Olifants/Doorn River Catchment, which provides water to those in the

West Coast, saw a whopping increase of more than 40% in just one week.

The DWS said that 17 dams, including Karee, Misverstand, Ceres and

Brandvlei, increased more than 5% in the past week.

Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, DWS Western Cape Head, welcomed the

recent rains in the province, but shared her dismay after many communities

had to evacuate their homes follwoing heavy downpours. Two people lost

their livesin the Western Cape, because of flooding.

“Besides localised flooding near the construction site of the Clanwilliam

Dam wall, there are no immediate reports of infrastructure damage

(gauging stations, dams etc). The Clanwilliam Dam Construction Site Office

is established well above the floodline and Full Supply Level and thus

 

remains undamaged. However, the foreman’s office and eight containers

(that were emptied) were washed away due to the unexpected high flows.

The work on the dam apron surface will now be delayed until the dam stop

spilling. In the meantime, other critical path activities such as quarry

development and embankment work will continue,” said Bila-Mupariwa.

So far, the heavy rains have not interrupted or intermittently disrupted water

supplies. The department is currently auditing infrastructure to ascertain if

any damages, and a comprehensive report will be issued on various

platforms in due course,’’ added Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, DWS

Western Cape Head.

She said as much as dam levels are on a ‘healthy’ level, she encouraged

residents to still use water sparingly.

“While we are happy with the dam level storages across the Western Cape,

we remind all water users that most of the rainfall took place during the

winter, which is stored and used during the dry and hot summer months of

the Western Cape. For this reason, all water users are urged to use water

sparingly,’’ said Bila-Mupariwa.

According to the South Africa Weather Services, no rain has been forecast

for the rest of the week for the Cape.

 

Done By: Mitchum George