Dam levels: Cape deluge sees readings surpass 2025 figures
Cape Town’s dam levels have surged after recent wet weather, with overall storage now sitting well above 2025 levels...
Black News 
Cape Town’s dam levels have climbed sharply following a series of powerful cold fronts that swept through the Western Cape earlier this month.
The City of Cape Town’s readings this week show combined storage in the Western Cape Water Supply System reached 70.8% on 18 May. That is 11.6% higher than the same time last year.
The increase comes after a severe weather system made landfall over the weekend of 9 May, bringing widespread heavy rain and strong winds to parts of the province.
Initial readings taken on 13 May already showed rising storage levels, but updated figures released on 19 May captured the delayed runoff flowing into major catchment areas.
Combined storage rose from 67.8% on 13 May to 71.1% by 19 May.
Cape Town dam levels surge after cold front
Several major dams posted notable increases over the six-day period.
Steenbras Upper recorded one of the biggest jumps, climbing from 61.1% to 71.6%.
Theewaterskloof Dam, the province’s largest reservoir, increased from 69.2% to 72.0%.
Voëlvlei Dam rose from 54.1% to 58.1%, while Wemmershoek climbed from 86.8% to 93.4%.
Berg River Dam also edged higher from 76.7% to 78.4%.
Cape Town dam levels (13 May to 19 May):
- Berg River: 76.7% → 78.4%
- Steenbras Lower: 53.9% → 54.5%
- Steenbras Upper: 61.1% → 71.6%
- Theewaterskloof: 69.2% → 72.0%
- Voëlvlei: 54.1% → 58.1%
- Wemmershoek: 86.8% → 93.4%
Residents still urged to use water sparingly
Cape Town’s current water consumption is sitting at 871 million litres per day, slightly above the City’s winter target of 860 MLD.
City officials are still trying to avoid a repeat of the 2017/18 Cape Town water crisis and the looming threat of a ‘Day Zero’.
They have repeatedly stressed that meaningful gains only happen once rainfall reaches dam catchment areas and filters through river systems, in combination with residents using water sparingly.
“If we use more than this winter target of 860 MLD, followed by below average rainfall this winter, the City may have to implement water restrictions by the end of this year,” Cape Town’s MMC for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien, has previously said.
Click here for the City of Cape Town’s top water-saving tips
