Water Wednesday: Western Cape's water restrictions remain despite half of the dams

This week, the Western Cape regional office of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation has informed the general public of the status of water situation in Cape Town Western

. the combined average dams levels for the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) are 53.05% vs. 48.33% last week. Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest dam in the system, reached 38.55% compared to 19.61% at the same time last year.

Congratulations Cape Town! Together, we pushed back Day Zero beyond 2019. In uniting against drought, we managed to do what no other city in the world has ever done before. Think of #ThinkWaterCT and keep saving, even when it's raining. https://t.co/9ojzNlbAbS pic.twitter.com/Si1vm53x8C

– City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) July 10, 2018

The DWS Western Cape Town Regional Chief Rashid Khan said the dam levels indicate that they are half full (to 53% on July 9th) with more rains expected during this winter rainy season. This is a significant advance for water security in the Western Cape Province, especially for the dams that are part of the WCWSS that supply the city of Cape Town.

Despite the highest dam levels of the year, Khan said he needed water savings to stay. He proposed a way forward from climate change: to establish alternative sources of water as a primary source and precipitation (considered surface water where it becomes available) as secondary option.

510 million liters per day. Please continue to save money, because every recorded drop will help build our reserves for the summer. Join the challenge # 50LitreLife to not exceed 50ℓ per day: https://t.co/8yPg1Y7KL4 pic.twitter.com/sBYBgLkh2y

– City of Cape Town ( @CityofCT) July 10, 2018

The current water restrictions will remain in effect until dam levels reach more than 85% on average collective in the Western Cape. The national department allows the local government to manage its water use so that its local commercial, industrial and domestic users use the water accordingly.

Despite the cancellation of Day Zero, Capetonians will pay 19.9% ​​more for water and sanitation after another tariff increase was announced in early July. The Daily Maverick reported that the communities expressed outrage at the increase and provincial secretary ANC Western Cape issued a statement saying, "The material conditions that led to these exorbitant tariff proposals have changed dramatically and we are asking the city ​​to follow. " [19659003] Cape Residents who responded to the call of the President #ThumaMina and who asked the CTC to pay their dues to call for an end to the water crisis and the increase in tariffs #ThumaMina pic.twitter. com / 4YJ69GL395

– Western Cape of the ANC (@ANCWesternCape_) July 6, 2018

Here is your weekly dam update:

• The Vaal River System is component of 14 dams serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom is at 100.3%.
• The Cape Town dam system consisting of six dams serving Cape Town mainly this week is at 47.3 percent after a 53 percent peak earlier this week.
• The KwaZulu-Natal dam system is at 64.6 This week, the Eastern Cape dam system stands at 63.1%.

Here are the most recent percentages of barrages throughout the country:

For a more detailed precipitation update, visit WeatherSA or click here. For more information on water storage levels across the country, visit the DWS site. For a full report on the state of drought of the Department of Water and Sanitation, click here.