Dams – Latest levels: Winelands and Cape Town

Latest report (updated 6th March 2017) on the main dams serving

Cape Town City and nearby Boland/Overberg towns

Less than 99 days of water remain! Combined water stored in the six main Cape dams fell to 30.9% of overall capacity (down from 32.5% last week).

Net outflows from the six main dams during this past week was 13.5 Million cuM vs the prior week’s reported net outflow of 13.6 Million cuM. Total water consumption is proving to be stubborn at this level and the hoped for further savings are not materialising.

Since 1st November total water used is 44.2 McuM less water than in the same period a year ago. This is a saving of 15% which is unfortunately falling well behind the authorities’ target of saving 30% of regular use, but it is contributing to stretching supplies until winter rains hopefully arrive.

What are the authorities doing?

Mayor Patricia De Lille has declared City of Cape Town a local disaster area with respect to the water situation (the national water authority seems to not view the situation in SW Cape as being so serious). The mayor made the disaster declaration on Friday 3rd March.

The mayor said she was empowered to declare a local disaster in terms of section 55 of the Disaster Management Act. De Lille explained that the declaration “allows the council to manage the situation with more flexibility in terms of moving staff and resources to deal with the crisis, we can also allocate more resources as required”. The council can also invoke emergency procurement procedures if required in the event of a crisis of breakdown of critical infrastructure.

However, in our opinion there is actually little that the authorities can do at this stage to “produce” more water other than on an emergency basis to recirculate processed waste water and to drill boreholes to tap into the TMG and Cape Flats underground water aquifers.

Looking ahead.

How much water do we have left stored in the main dams? At present consumption rate with no change in restrictions, water supplies should last approximately 96 days until first week June, 2017.

Will the weather help? The near-term forecast indicates only occasional rain around 15th March.

In the medium term some unstable, gusty weather is predicted for mid-April and again towards end-April with the possibility of general rain on both occasions.

The longer-range forecast for May indicates a sustained period of unstable weather across the middle of the month. That is the time of year where rains typically can start to set in.

Your comments and concerns.

The general belief is that abusers of the system are not deterred by the possibility of fines and many of you advocate that harsher methods should be applied.

Fran J comments:  “… people who think the law doesn’t apply to them will keep using the water and paying the fines. Would it not be more productive to cut off their water for a period to show them what it is like when no water comes out of the taps. This was done in Balito during the 3 years of drought we have just experienced. When they go over their allocated amount, they get cut off.

Marena du P slaan voor: “Misbruikerds van water moet hard gestraf word dc waar dit die seerste maak . GELD !!! Groot boetes!”

Unless relieving rains fall soon many of you believe that “water shedding” will take place. The fact is that the authorities are reluctant to shut off the water completely as this can create even more problems and leaks when the water flows again. But if the situation does not improve then some form of voluntary or enforced rationing may have to be implemented.

Here are two photos taken last week in the northern reaches of the Theewaters dam. Many sections are now completely dry or just have isolated pools of water no longer connected to the main water body.

If you are interested, join the Facebook group  https://www.facebook.com/groups/watersheddingsa/. Members of that group post many interesting and practical ideas regarding water savings methods and ideas. It is also a way to stay up to date on a daily basis with what is actually going on.

Read ShowMe’s guide to reducing indoors use of water here.

Read ShowMe’s guide to reducing outdoors use of water here.

In Summary: outflows exceeded inflows again last week – stored water volume fell from 32.5% to 30.9% of full capacity. Net water consumption 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 tank 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).