The Western Cape government on Monday appealed to residents to continue to push hard to save water, this as dam levels dropped to 20%.
Anton Bredell, MEC of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, said: “In the remaining period before our expected rainfall season, we must do what we can to use even less water. To date consumers have been very cooperative and responded well to our calls to save water. But an even bigger effort is needed to ensure we don’t run out altogether.”
Bredell said his department was meeting with all stakeholders, including national government, on a regular basis to assess the ongoing situation and to devise strategies to tackle water shortages in the longer term.
“Our disaster management team in the province also remains on alert,” he said.
Bredell further cautioned the public to continue to use water sparingly, even when it does start to rain.
“We must ensure that dam levels recover, so when it starts to rain, consumers should not revert back to using water wastefully,” Bredell added
According to the National Department of Water and Sanitation, the Cape Town Systems Dams, which consist of the Wemmershoek, Voelvlei, Steenbras Upper and Lower, Theewaterskloof and Berg River dams, had this week dropped to 21,70%, compared to 22.28% the previous week. During the same period last year, the Cape Town Systems Dams levels had stood at 31.71%.