Recent devastating storms have had mixed consequences for Cape Town’s water security
The storms that devastated Cape Town two weeks ago and left 11 people dead has had an unexpected positive effect. It caused an exceptionally rare spell of rain that pushed the City’s dam levels up by almost 20% in a single week, reaching 70,8% on Monday, 18 May 2026.
The City of Cape Town said it was now moving out of its “early drought caution” stage, but it is urging residents to keep using water carefully.
Dam levels and daily water use at a glance
Cape Town’s dams were at 70,8% on Monday 18 May 2026, up 19,9% from the week before and 11,6% higher than the same time last year, when levels stood at 59,2%.
Daily water use has climbed to 871 million litres a day (MLD), up from 831 previous week and above the winter-use target of 860 MLD.
An extraordinary rainfall event
The May 2026 rainfall was exceptional by any measure. Rainfall was so heavy in several catchment areas, the sort of event estimated to occur only once every 20 to 200 years in the affected regions. The Western Cape Water Supply System, which provides water to several municipalities, gained close to 20% in storage within a single week. This raises the possibility that the system could reach full-supply capacity, or at least 80%, by November 2026.
What does this mean for water restrictions?
The City of Cape Town uses its Drought Framework Management system to guide its decisions. With dam levels now above 70% Cape Town’s water status has moved back to the water-wise stage.
The City will continue to watch dam levels and water use closely over the coming months.
Dam levels generally need to be at 80% or more by the time the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) carries out its Annual Operating Analysis (AOA) in November, failing which water restrictions may be imposed on the municipality. The City may also propose restrictions before the November AOA, based on its own reading of water use, dam levels and long-term weather forecasts.
Dams are fuller, but keep saving water
“Even though this extraordinary rainfall event has been key to filling our dams by almost 20% in a week we still need to be water-wise. We don’t know when we will get rain again, and if it comes how much will we get, and will it fall in the right place – in the catchment areas of dams – so dam levels can increase?
“An event such as this does not mean the rest of the year will experience above-average rainfall.
“Climate change is affecting weather patterns and rainfall, so this underscores the City’s investment in our water-secure future. Cape Town is busy working towards diverse water sources in the long term so we can depend less on rain-fed dams for our supply. We cannot depend on unpredictable rainfall to fill our dams.
“Thank you, Team Cape Town, for journeying with us over the past few months and heeding the call to save water,” said Zahid Badroodien, Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation, “we appreciate your contribution. Let’s continue to be water wise. Every drop counts when facing the unpredictable rainfall.”
The water in Cape Town’s dams will need to last until next year, without depending on further rainfall. While the recent rains are welcome the City cautions against a false sense of security. According to consumption statistics around 70% of high-volume water use takes place at home.
For practical water-saving tips, visit www.capetown.gov.za/savewater.
Building Cape Town’s water-secure future
Since the drought the City has been steadily upgrading old water pipes, improving pressure management, fixing leaks more quickly and strengthening metering along the supply network.
The City is also pushing ahead with plans to add 300 million litres a day to Cape Town’s water supply through desalination, groundwater schemes, and water reuse, reducing the city’s reliance on rainfall-fed dams over the long term.
Report burst municipal pipes straight away
If you spot a burst municipal pipe, report it immediately through any of the following channels:
- Call: 086 010 3089 (select option 2)
- SMS: 31373
- WhatsApp: 060 018 1505
- Email: water@capetown.gov.za
Always give an exact location or address, and insist on a reference number.
ALSO READ: Cape Town urges residents to save water after storms disrupt treatment plants
You must be logged in to post a comment.