The dams supplying the City of Cape Town are nearly at 100% capacity. The latest dam report reveals that levels have risen by 1.3% to 99.5% full in the past week, thanks to the recent rains.
All the major dams are over 98% full. Steenbras Lower is the fullest at 101.7%, followed by Berg River which is 100.6% full. Theewaterskloof, the city’s largest reservoir, is 99.6% full.
All the major dams levels have increased since last week’s reading.
This week’s reading is especially exciting when compared to previous years. This time last year, dams were 81.9% full and in 2018, 75% full. In 2017, at the height of the drought in the Western Cape, a grim 37.6% was recorded.
Marine Conservation photographer Jean Tresfon has been photographing the Cape Town dams throughout the drought and beyond and the difference a few years make is incredible.
“It’s now almost 2.5 years since the drought and the time when Cape Town approached a “Day Zero” scenario, almost becoming the first major metropolitan city to effectively run out of water. These six major supply dams hit a record low of 21.2% of total combined storage capacity despite drastic increases in water tariffs and major water restrictions being implemented,” Tresfon explains.
“I’ve been flying and photographing the dams on an occasional basis during the drought and beyond. It’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so for interest’s sake here is a visual representation of the 6 major supply dams at both low and high levels during the past 3 years.”
View more of his work on his Facebook page: Jean Tresfon – Marine Conservation Photographer
Read the dam report here: Dam Levels – September 28
Picture: Jean Tresfon