The downpour that started on Thursday has added 104 billion litres to Western Cape dams, taking the dam levels from 26% last week, to 31% this week. This is huge improvement from last year this time, when the dam levels was at 21%.
To give an idea of how much water 104 billion litres is, it is the equivalent of two million filled up swimming pools. However, if you have a swimming pool, the Western Cape is still caught up in a drought so refrain from filling it anytime soon. One filled up swimming pool can supply the average South African household with up to one year of water.
The additional 104 billion litres can also supply every household in the Western Cape with up to one year of drinking water. The entire water supply of approximately 590 billion litres can, in theory, supply every household with up to one year of water, but once again, don’t get too excited.
As Cape Town Mayor, Patricia de Lille pointed out; it will take up to 3 years for the current drought situation be sorted out. In addition, the theoretical assumption above does not take into consideration the amount of water that has to go to businesses, farms and other activities. We are going to need to much more rain before we are safe from the realities of drought.
Even when we are out of drought territory, please continue saving water. Nature does not work according to our timetables, and you never know when the next drought will decide to come knocking at out our doors.
Please see the dam levels for the entire country below:
| Province | This Week (%) | Last Week (%) | Last Year (%) |
| Eastern Cape | 65 | 66 | 58 |
| Free State | 96 | 96 | 83 |
| Gauteng | 100 | 100 | 92 |
| Kwazulu-Natal | 65 | 66 | 57 |
| Limpopo | 75 | 75 | 78 |
| Mpumalanga | 81 | 81 | 79 |
| North West | 73 | 74 | 88 |
| Northern Cape | 89 | 93 | 95 |
| Western Cape | 32 | 26 | 21 |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 71 |