Dams – Latest levels: Winelands and Cape Town
Latest report (updated 27th February 2017) on the main dams serving
Cape Town City and nearby Boland/Overberg towns
Combined water stored in the six main Cape dams fell to 31.8% of overall capacity (down from 33.2% last week).
According to DWS figures published today, net outflows from the six main dams during this past week was 13.6 Million cuM vs the prior week’s reported net outflow of 15.5 Million cuM (which we felt was erroneously over-stated). This net water consumption is in the range being aimed for by the authorities, but it is hoped that more can still be saved while we still can during the coming months.
Over the past four months since 1st November we have together used 40.9 McuM less water than in the same period a year ago. This is equivalent to having added one more Steenbras dam into the system. This gradually increasing saving will help to keep water flowing until winter rains arrive.
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What are the authorities doing?
Cape Town City has announced that fines ranging from R500 to R2000 have been issued for abusive water use and it plans to name and shame the culprits in due course.
Locations of the top 100 water users are given here
Water restriction exemptions for companies and residents have been revoked to bring them into line with the level 3b criteria. Included are large single residential units, body corporates, homeowners’ associations and estates.
Signage is up on the Cape Flats reading “Save water now or regret it later”
If uncertain, read here about the current level-3B restrictions and what it may mean for you.
Looking ahead.
How long will the water currently stored in the six main dams last? At current usage rate, it should last approximately 102 days until early-June, 2017.
Will the weather help? The near-term forecast shows some light rain at the end of this week. In the medium term a period of unstable weather is starting to be forecast around end-March which could bring some thundery weather and more sustained rain.
The long-range forecast for April continues to show unstable, gusty weather mid-month and again towards end-April with the possibility of extended rain on both occasions. Naturally this is what one would on average expect if the weather normalises. But at this time no major heavy rainfall events are being predicted.
Your comments and concerns.
Many of you wonder how much water is used by the different sectors in the SW Cape. One concern sometimes expressed is that the informal settlements use or waste disproportionate amounts of water; but this is simply not correct as you will see below.
Estimates for water usage in SW Cape are that:
– Agricultural irrigation absorbs some 40% .
– Leaks and wastage account for about 15%.
So what about the other 45%? Usefully, CTC Mayor De Lille’s office has now put out a breakdown. If we treat this as being representative for all the larger municipalities, then the split of that 45% would be as follows:
– Formal residences : 25.1%
– Retail and offices : 5.0%
– Flats and complexes : 4.1%%
– City-owned facilities and departments : 2.3%
– Informal settlements : 2.1%
– Industry : 1.8%
– Government : 1.1%
– Old-age homes and homeless shelters : 0.8%
– Standpipes during construction, at schools, sports grounds and community organisations 2.7%
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There are many suggestions about ways to reduce one’s consumption of fresh water;
One approach is to drive dirty cars, as the driver of this vehicle is appears to be setting out to do.
Read ShowMe’s guide to reducing indoors use of water here.
In Summary: outflows exceeded inflows over the week – stored water volume fell from 34.0% to 32.5% of capacity. The net water usage rate remains in the range of 13-14 McuM per week.
Here are the levels of the six main dams that serve the Cape Town/Overberg/Boland area. Also shown is the total water storage level of all the dams in the whole greater Western Cape.
Read ShowMe’s guide to reducing indoors use of water here.
Read about South Africa’s desalination policies and initiatives.
Read about level-3B water restrictions here.
Read about a D-i-Y household rainwater harvesting and storage system here
Read our water-wise landscaping and water-wise gardening suggestions.
Click here to see Winelands Weather forecast of possible near-term rain.
Report instances of piping failures and incorrect use to municipalities.
In Cape Town the contact details of the 24-hour Technical Operation Centre are: Email: waterTOC@capetown.gov.za Telephone: 0860103089 (choose option2: water-related faults) or SMS: 31373 (max 160 characters).
Views expressed in this article, and comments in response, are those of the writer and commenters alone and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ShowMe, nor is any warranty hereby given as to suitability for any purpose of a reviewed enterprise or as to the quality of offered advice, products, services or value. Copyright ShowMe Paarl. All rights reserved. Copy only with prior permission.