Cape Town - The total capacity of dams supplying the Cape Town metro decreased by 0.5% in the last week, down from 100.5% the previous week to 100%.
In a statement the City said that at the same time last year, dam levels were at 98.5%.
The City reported that daily water consumption for the last week increased to 760 million litres per day from 732 million litres the week before.
Meanwhile, the latest hydrological report from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reports an increase of over 2% in the broader Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS).
This is up from 98.4% a week ago.
DWS spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says the department was happy with the rains that fell in some catchments in the Western Cape on Monday.
“The Gouritz River catchment which covers both Central and Little Karoo is stable at 29.6% as compared to 29.3% as at the same time last week. It is hoped that this catchment on the eastern end of the Western Cape Province will receive summer rainfall.
“Individually, only Misverstand and Klipheuwel Dams saw a decrease of over 5%. The Bulshoek dam on the West Coast is the only dam that has seen an increase of over 5%,” said Ratau.
Commenting on the link between the climate change discussions at the COP 26 held in Scotland, Ratau said the outcome of the talks have huge implications for poorer economies such as South Africa.
“There are many people who think climate change is in the distant future. However, climate change is affecting rain patterns, which is why the country experienced severe drought over the years.
“Consequently, lifestyle changes are needed to conserve water, as South Africa continues to be a water scarce country, even with favourable rainfall,” he said.