The first signs are starting to show that Cape Town could be turning the corner in its fight against the drought, but this is no time to ease up on water-saving efforts, a sub-council meeting heard last week.
Sub-council 4 manager Chris Jordaan cautioned residents to keep saving water after dam levels rose by 6.3% over the past week.
The dams are 38.1% full, compared to the previous week’s 31.8%. At this time last year, the dams were 23% full.
“This increase is the biggest single weekly increase this year,” said Mr Jordaan.
“The good rainfall we have received over the past four weeks has increased our dams’ storage to the same levels they were towards the end of winter last year. While this is good news, it is too soon to know what supply level is needed to safely navigate next year’s summer,” he said.
As Eskom reported further load shedding last week, Mr Jordaan said: “The City of Cape Town advises residents that it is able to stick to its previous schedule, and avert low levels of load shedding if consumption remains low. Residents are, however, advised to be prepared for periods without power.”
He said the City was entirely dependent on Eskom informing it of what its generation capacity will be.
“Unfortunately, we are at this point unable to provide residents with more detailed information on what to expect.
“However, we believe that there is a risk that load shedding will continue to be implemented throughout the next week. Residents are advised to familiarise themselves with the Eskom load-shedding schedule available on the City’s website to know when to expect their area to be without power and to prepare.”
