Dam levels across the Western Cape have recorded further gains this week, with the provincial storage now at 73.97%, up from 73.21% last week.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has reported positive improvements across all key water supply systems in the region, marking a continuation of the steady recovery observed in recent weeks.

The Cape Town Water Supply System has increased from 72.36% last week to 73.10% this week, whilst overall provincial storage levels have risen by 0.76%.

Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest reservoir in the Western Cape Water Supply System, has climbed from 74.02% to 74.75% this week, reflecting continued recovery in the province’s primary water source. This represents a significant improvement compared to last year, when the dam stood at 62.74% during the same period.

Wemmershoek Dam has shown the most notable gain, reaching 99.50% capacity, up from 97.80% last week. The dam’s current level is particularly impressive when compared to last year’s 60.99%.

Berg River Dam has increased from 76.32% to 77.82%, whilst both Steenbras Upper and Lower dams have recorded modest gains. Steenbras Upper now sits at 82.86%, up from 82.19%, and Steenbras Lower has risen to 48.50% from 47.69%.

Western Cape Head of DWS, Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa, welcomed the sustained improvement in dam levels and encouraged the public to continue using water responsibly.

“The continued increase in dam levels is encouraging and contributes positively to water security across the province. Whilst the current outlook is favourable, responsible water use remains important to ensure the long-term sustainability of our water resources,” said Bila-Mupariwa.

She added that the department would continue to monitor dam levels closely and provide regular updates on the status of water resources in the province.

The positive trend comes as welcome news for the region, which has experienced significant water challenges in previous years. All six major dams in the system are now performing better than at this time last year, with the exception of Voëlvlei, which has dipped slightly to 59.23% from 59.39% last week, though it remains comparable to last year’s 60.70%.