CapeTownMagazine.com

Cape Town’s dam levels

For Moments of Joy. Follow our social channels
for useful news, daily local champions
 
072 350 2062
Ideas Cartel, The Old Foundry, 1 Sand Hill Road, Green Point
www.capetownmagazine.com/subscribe
now@capetownmagazine.com
CapeTownMag
CapeTownMagazine.com
capetownmag

Cape Town’s dam levels

A recovery worth of sharing. 

Latest update: 6 September 2021

Cape Town Dams Full. 

 

MAJOR CAPE TOWN DAMS FULL

BERG RIVER dam is 100.9% full compares to 57.6% in 2017 
STEENBRAS LOWER dam is 102.0% full compare to 42.2% in 2017
STEENBRAS UPPER dam is 94.5% full compared to 101.1% in 2017
THEEWATERSKLOOF dam is 103.3% full compared to 26.8% (!) in 2017
VOËLVLEI dam is 99.9% full compared to 25.7% in 2017
WEMMERSHOEK dam is 100.2% full copared to 41.7% in 2017.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CapeTownMagazine.com (@capetownmag)

video from CapeTownMagazine.com's 2008 flight to show Cape Town's dam level improvements.

 

Latest update: 21 October 2020

Dams supplying Cape Town hit 100% capacity in October, and the City of Cape Town has taken the decision to reduce the water restrictions that have been in place for years, as well as to lower the tariff. This will take effect from 1 November 2020.  

CAPETONIANS' WATER-SAVING EFFORTS WERE A HUGE SUCCESS

Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Mr Anton Bredell, explained the decision, saying “Before the drought the city’s daily water use was above 1.2 billion litres. The city and its citizens managed to reduce consumption below 500 million litres at the height of the crisis. This was a major contributing factor to the fact that the city didn’t run out of drinking water. At the moment the city’s use is around 690 million litres per day.”

 

WESTERN CAPE DAMS IN 2018 AND NOW

Marine conservation photographer, Jean Tresfon, took to Facebook to share his images of the dam in various stages of the drought. "It’s often said that a picture is worth a thousand words", he writes, "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."

Cape Town's biggest supply dam, Theewaterskloof, providing 53.5% of total storage capacity. On 9 March 2018 I...

Posted by Jean Tresfon - Marine Conservation Photographer on Monday, September 28, 2020

Voelvlei Dam, Cape Town's second biggest supply dam providing 18.3% of total storage capacity. Back on 9 March 2018 the...

Posted by Jean Tresfon - Marine Conservation Photographer on Monday, September 28, 2020

 

CAPE TOWN WATER RESTRICTIONS

"From 1 November there will be no more water restrictions in the city and the tariff charged will be the lowest tariff, being the no restriction, water-wise tariff" the City of Cape Town announced on thursday, 21 October.

 

WATCH: THEEWATERSKLOOF DAM OVERFLOWS

On 25 September 2020 videos of the largest supply dam for Cape Town overflowing flooded social media. 

 

PLUS MORE VIDEOS ON THE DAMS INCREDIBLE RECOVERY

A slow pan to make you smile!




In 2018, Theewaterskloof - the largest water-supplying dam in the province - was at it's lowest with only 9%. Today, 2 years later, it has made a full recovery at 100.5%.

A roadtrip is in order to see the joyous news in person.

One last video... Just look at all that water.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Christine Coates (@christinas_word) on Sep 13, 2020 at 10:38pm PDT

 

THE BACKGROUND TO CAPE TOWN’S WATER SITUATION

In 2018 Cape Town came close to becoming the first major city in the world to run out of drinking water. However, Capetonians pulled through. We took two-minute showers instead of baths, we used “grey” water to flush our toilets and we only flushed when necessary. Those who could afford to buy water tanks did so and saved the rainwater off their roofs while the hospitality industry invested in water re-usage systems and the government installed desalination plants. 

Cape Town has come a long way and is used as a water success story all over the world. We’ve learnt from our past and we’ve adjusted our future. Today, our dams are finally almost full. 

---

There are some incredible images of snow on Table Mountain.

The situation is ever-changing and our team is committed to bringing you all the latest updates on COVID-19 in Cape Town

Whatever the weather does, there’s still plenty to do to keep yourself entertained this weekend.

Need supplies? Check out these places that deliver during lockdown.

Remember when the city shook? Find out about Cape Town’s earthquakes.

---

Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of what’s happening in the city, suburbs and dorpies. Join our newsletter and add us to your mobile home screen for the ultimate guide to discoveries in Cape Town.

Follow and like us on TwitterFacebookLinkedInInstagramPinterest for updates.

 

Cape Town Events Calendar
November 2024
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Wolfkop Nature Reserve 4Our team’s tip-off: 50% off cottage ...

Completely private cottages with splash pools, hot tubs and more

HintHunt AfricaGet over the midweek hump with a ...

Easy spot for team building, midweek date night, & more

Mavericks celebrity skinDance and dinner theatre at Mavericks

High-end, choreographed burlesque cabaret

AroundAboutCars 3 Car rental specials in Cape Town

Free upgrades, free data, 10% off luxury vehicles & more

Palm House Boutique Hotel and Spa August 2024Sublime dining at Palm House Boutique ...

Friday Night Steak Club, Afternoon Tea, 6-course tasting menu & more

Trail's End Bike HotelTeam building, stylish conferencing & ...

Ultimate work-play-and-stay hub, Trail’s End

Milk on the beach wafflesOur team’s top picks at the Waffle ...

Loaded hotdogs, caramel popcorn G&Ts, waffle churros

Two Oceans Aquarium clean up Free beach clean-ups with the Two ...

It happens every single month. See upcoming dates

Pear TreeThe hidden seaside bistro on the ...

Sushi calamari, miso sirloin & rice krispies milkshakes

mischu 2024Weekends are for mischu

You can get breakfast and coffee with the R99 brunch special

Filini interiorFilini at Radisson Cape Town Foreshore

Tiramisu martinis, lasagne crocchetta and a buzzy rooftop bar

Cannibisters 2024Cape Town’s very own cannabis club, ...

Now with over 90 strains of weed and The Serenity Room

Off-road adventure at Scootours BanhoekBest day ever? Monster Mountain ...

Scootours Banhoek has scooters, vine bikes and archery

Escape rooms Cape TownPossibly the best escape room in the ...

HintHunt’s Marble is being called “the king of escape rooms”

Char'd Grill & Wine BarSpirit tastings and unique cuts at ...

Gin atomiser, brandy tastings and chef recommendations

Milk on the Beach 2024Reasons to visit this beach-side family ...

Ramen by the sea, a build-your-own waffle bar & 5 more

Palm House Boutique Hotel and Spa August 2024This boutique 5-star hotel offers ...

The signature Palm Journey includes a 3-course lunch

GiveawaysTravel Tips