Cape Town dam levels increase to 100,8%
5 October 2020
The total capacity of dams supplying the Cape Town metro increased from 99,5% to 100,8% between 28 September and 4 October 2020, a 1,3% rise from the previous week. Water consumption for the same period increased by nine million litres per day from an average of 651 million litres per day the previous week to 660 million litres per day. At the same time last year, dam levels were at 81,9%.
‘As the dam levels have topped the 100% mark, the City wants to thank Team Cape Town for the whole-of-society effort. Along with the good rains, we have collectively contributed to the region reaching this historic moment.
‘Together, we can all raise a glass of water to the collective effort that brought us to this point of plenty. After six long years of waiting for good rains, with a period of severe scarcity and rationing, seeing the dams reach this milestone capacity is a triumph for the city.
‘While residents’ recent water savings have been integral to dams reaching this level, we must also acknowledge the groundwork which was done in the years before the Day Zero scare. Before the brush with Day Zero, we had already achieved great success in building resilience through the implementation of the water demand management policies since the early 2000s. Five years ago, just before the Day Zero scare, the City’s water demand management programme was internationally recognised for its success in adapting to climate change, winning the Adaptation Implementation category at the 2015 C40 Cities awards,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Waste, Alderman Xanthea Limberg.