The week’s dam levels have just been released by the City of Cape Town.
A drop of one percent has been recorded when compared to the previous week’s levels. The reduction comes amid several weeks of relative stability to dam levels despite the ongoing drought, which is expected to intensify as summer sets in.
Last Monday, 6 November, collective dam levels were at 37.8%, while by Friday they had dropped by 0.4% to 37.3%. Faring dismally within that group of dams, Voëlvlei came out at 27.5% and Theewaterskloof 25.8%. Meanwhile, Steenbras Upper – significantly smaller – was at a generous 99.3% and the larger, neighbouring Steenbras Lower at 52.9%.
News broke out on Monday morning that Gamka Dam at Beaufort West, which supplies the central Karoo town with water, had dried up, forcing residents to rely on borehole and recycled sewage water.
Some respite on the horizon is that rain is forecast for the south-western Cape by early next week, with predictions across several weather apps pointing to incoming rainfall.
Photography Andreas Eiselen / HM Images