Dam levels ‘almost double’

THE 53.05% increase in dam levels has been described as “a significant step up” for water security in the Western Cape, said the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

The department said the level for the Theewaterskloof Dam, the largest dam supplying water to Cape Town, stood at 38.55%, almost double the 19.61% it stood at exactly a year ago.

However, the department’s regional head in the province, Rashid Khan, said the need for water savings remained.

The way forward in the face of climate change would be establishing alternative water sources as the primary source, and the rainfall (regarded as surface water where it becomes available) as the secondary option.

“Our water security at this time is much healthier than a year or two ago during the debilitating drought…

“Our collective effort as one government would be to guard against complacency and to work seamlessly in the quest for higher levels of water security,” said Khan.

The prevailing water restrictions will remain in force until dam levels reach more than 85% as a collective average in the Western Cape.

The department said it was not its intention to curtail water users to 50 litres of water a person a day.

“It is… the prerogative of a local government authority to set and manage its water use according to the water security prevailing at the time (such as after this rainfall event). The DWS is pleased for the much-needed rainfall we have had thus far in our winter rainfall season and hope that it continues to fill our dams to storage levels above 85%,” Khan said.

The City said any decision to lower current water restrictions, and thus the associated tariffs, depended on the national government relaxing restrictions on water releases from the dams.

The average water consumption for the past week was 510 million litres a day. “The City believes that current conditions warrant consideration of a relaxation of restrictions to appropriate levels. New water and sanitation tariffs have kicked in and the City reminds all water users that you pay less if you use less,” said deputy mayor Ian Neilson. – ANA, Staff Writer

See Letters, Page 8