The Western Cape’s overall dam levels have surged to 71.47%, marking a dramatic recovery from the critically low 44.94% recorded in early May this year, according to the latest data compiled on 1 June.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impressive 26.53 percentage point increase comes after devastating floods swept through the province between 10 and 14 May, killing at least 10 people and leaving more than 7 400 people in emergency shelters. Farmers described the floods as the worst in a century.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cape Town Water Supply System, which provides water to the metro and surrounding areas, has shown an equally impressive recovery, surging from just 47.78% in early May to 71.95% by 1 June \u2013 a gain of more than 24 percentage points in less than a month.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest in the province and accounting for 54% of the Cape Town water supply system, has rebounded from a worrying 43.2% in late April to 73.29% currently. The dam recorded 60.51% at the same time last year, meaning it is now 12.78 percentage points higher than June 2025 levels.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other key dams in the Cape Town system have recorded even more spectacular gains. Wemmershoek Dam has nearly doubled from 49.47% before the floods to 96.71% currently, compared to just 53.65% last year. Berg River Dam surged from a low of 42.3% in late April to 75.86%, well above last year’s 67.38%.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, not all dams showed year-on-year improvement. Steenbras Upper Dam declined from last year’s 89.19% to the current 81.22%, though it has recovered significantly from its 58.4% level in late April. Vo\u00eblvlei Dam is at 59.63%, having climbed from 50.28% before the floods, but still only marginally higher than last year’s 58.42%.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Olifants\/Doorn River Catchment has recorded the most dramatic transformation, surging from a critically low 23.43% before the floods to 80.74% currently. This represents an extraordinary 57.31 percentage point increase in less than a month, and is vastly improved from last year’s 30.10%.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gouritz River Catchment is now at 96.69%, up from 71.41% last year, while the Breede River Catchment has recovered from 44.04% in early May to 64.20%, compared to 53.04% last year.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eighteen dams across the province are currently at or above full capacity, including Misverstand Dam at 114.10%, Gamkapoort Dam at 102.49%, and Eikenhof Dam at 101.30%.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The province is now bracing for another weather event, with the South African Weather Service issuing an orange level 8 warning for disruptive rain expected along the Garden Route coast between Mossel Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday, 3 and 4 June.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cut-off low is forecast to bring cold, wet and windy conditions to the Garden Route District, with warnings of potential flooding, mudslides and displacement of settlements. A yellow level 4 warning has been issued for the eastern parts of the Central Karoo, western Garden Route and Swellendam Municipality.\r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the severe weather poses risks to communities still recovering from the May disaster, the additional rainfall could provide further relief to the province’s water reserves as winter progresses. \r<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dramatic improvement in dam levels offers significant relief for water security.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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