Brollies back as rain revisits Cape

UMBRELLAS are back in demand in the Western Cape as recent rains have seen average dam levels in the province rise to above 30% for the first time in months.

The latest dam statistics released yesterday showed a healthy increase in Cape Town’s catchment dams as well as others across the province‚ thanks to a series of cold fronts bringing significant rain over the past month. More rain is forecast for the coming weeks.

The biggest net gain was in the Breede River catchment area which recorded 330mm over the past week.

The Berg River catchment area recorded 173mm‚ according to statistics released by the Western Cape Department of Local Government‚ Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. However, department MEC Anton Bredell cautioned residents to continue saving water.

“The province is a winter rainfall area so the wet weather is not unexpected‚” Bredell said.

“The problem is there is such a backlog following the three years of drought that the system continues to remain under pressure.

“The good news is that the predictions seem to indicate further rain in the coming weeks. We also want to urge the public to continue to use as little water as possible.

“We must allow the system to recover as far as possible ahead of the summer.”

The average level for dams across the Western Cape is now 31.5%. The dams feeding Cape Town are slightly better off at 37.8% (as opposed to 22.7% last year).