Now this is what progress looks like. Records are tumbling week in, week out for the Cape Town dam levels, and for those in the wider Western Cape. The facilities serving the Mother City have surpassed the best total set in 2018, but the provincial system has gone that one step further.

As it stands, the Cape Town dam levels are an incredible 76.68% full, up almost 5% from the week before. A similar weekly increase has put the combined dam levels for the Western Cape on 61.28%

The best performance they had recorded in recent memory was On 3 August 2015, when the level was 79%. A year later, the province’s numbers had dropped to 54%. This, combined with the good news from the city, has put the notion of relaxing water restrictions right at the top of the agenda.

When it comes to the possibility of easing restrictions, the levels of restrictions are determined at municipal level, often first following consultations with the National Department of Water and Sanitation. However, the signs already seem good, with Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato suggesting tariffs are set to come down in October.

Western Cape and Cape Town dam levels for Monday 5 August

Cape Town dam levels for Monday 5 August – Photo: Western Cape Government

Voëlvlei dam – 79.6% full this week (2018: 59.8%. Last week: 74.4%)

(2018: 59.8%. Last week: 74.4%) Bergriver dam – 100% full this week (2018: 86.5%. Last week: 100%).

(2018: 86.5%. Last week: 100%). Theewaterskloof dam – 66.5% full this week (2018: 42%. Last week: 61.7%)

(2018: 42%. Last week: 61.7%) Clanwilliam dam – 91.6% full this week (2018: 99.2%. Last week: 71.6%)

Western Cape latest news

The greatest ongoing concern for the province remains the rural Karoo region of the Western Cape where the situation – especially in the agriculture area – remains serious. Dam levels are stuck below the 25% full mark, and there are only a few weeks of winter left to “bolster” the reserve.

Anton Bredell is the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning for the Western Cape. He lauded the performance of the local dams, but reminded Capetonians that there will always be a threat of drought following one poor winter spell:

“Some major dams are already 100% full while others like Clanwilliam Dam on the West Coast, have reported a second weekly increase of above 20% for the past week. Two years ago on 7 August 2017 the average dam level for the province was 28%. “At the same time, the Theewaterskloof dam was only 22% full. Currently, that dam is more than three times that level, at 66.5%. The resource will always be under pressure though, and we need to continue with the good practices we have seen.” Anton Bredell