Cape Town dams levels are dropping
August 23, 2010
Cape Town dam levels are lower than what they have been in the past few years due a little rain. There seems to be little hope for our dams to be filling up as the long term weather forecast is once again predicting a dry week.
In the past August and September have been some of Cape Towns heavier rainfall months but this is turning out, not be the case this year. This August has been especially dry compared to previous years and this is negatively affecting dam levels.
Dams are dryer than before
These figure clearly show a 14% drop in water storage from Cape Towns Major Dams. Cape Towns largest dam, Theewaterskloof, with a capacity of 3 time as much water as our next biggest dam is only 92% full. Last year August it was already at 100%. This reduce storage is eqaul to both Steenbras Dams.
A dramatic drop in Cape Town Dam Levels
The significance of low dam levels will first be felt by avid gardeners as they will be hit hardest by water restriction.
| Dam | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Capacity Ml |
| Wemmershoek | 89.30% | 100.00% | 97.30% | 94.90% | 71.70% | 58,644 |
| Steenbras Lower | 99.1.% | 100.00% | 89.40% | 97.90% | 56.50% | 33,571 |
| Steenbras Upper | 97.50% | 99.20% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 90.30% | 31,517 |
| Voelvlei | 89.70% | 99.00% | 95.10% | 95.70% | 93.60% | 164,122 |
| Theewaterskloof | 72.80% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 92.70% | 480,250 |
| Berg River | – | – | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 130,000 |
| Cape Town TOTAL (ave) | 69.86% | 99.64% | 96.97% | 98.08% | 84.13% | 898,300 |
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