City dam levels increase to 95,6%

The total capacity of dams supplying the Cape Town metro has increased to 95.6% between Monday August 31 and Sunday September 6.

Water consumption for the same period increased by 21 million litres per day from an average of 633 million litres per day the previous week to 654 million litres per day. At the same time last year, dam levels were 81.9%.

Mayoral committee member for water and waste, Xanthea Limberg, said: “Seeing the dam levels drawing nearer to 100% mark is absolutely riveting. For everyone who grimly watched the weather forecasts on the edge of their seats through the winters of the past few years, reaching 95.6% today is remarkable.”

Miss Limberg added that they were aware that the increase in dam levels was generating questions around water tariffs.

“Regarding tariffs: as previously stated, a reduction in tariffs will be dependent on an increase in consumption. Currently, the City is selling approximately 30% less water than before the draught, but is facing additional costs to ensure that the maintenance and augmentation programmes can be carried out. Should the amount of water we are selling significantly increase, this will be factored into the tariffs, but given the uncertain impact of climate change, it may not be wise to actively encourage such an approach at this stage.”