Cape Town - The recent downpours may have dampened spirits, but it has raised dam levels by more than 5 percent.
The Western Cape’s dam levels have been at a record low as the country struggled through a drought caused by the El Niño warm weather pattern.
Heavy rains over the past few days have watered wilting crops and helped to boost dam levels slightly - although not enough to take the pressure off the water supply system.
Western Cape MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Anton Bredell said dam levels across the province had swelled to an average of 35.4 percent, up from 30 percent last week.
“Large areas of the province have received much-needed rainfall. This has assisted the agriculture sector in those regions to some extent.
“Unfortunately, we are not in the clear yet and a lot more rain is needed to enable dam levels to recover fully for the summer season.”
Bulshoek Dam and Clanwilliam Dam, both in the Clanwilliam area, have received some relief from the recent rains, as has Voelvlei Dam in the Gouda area. But they are still nowhere near the average levels that Western Cape dams were at this time last year - at nearly 60 percent capacity.
It’s promising news for the dams in the Cape metropolitan region, too, which have also seen a swell, thanks to the rains, although increasing by less - 4.2 percent. The Berg River dam rose 8.1 percent in just a week.
City dams are now at 34 percent, up from 29.8 percent last week, but a far cry from the 51 percent they were at on this day last year.
Local farmers in the province have been facing scorched and wilting crops because of the unusually dry weather.
On the West Coast, canola and wheat crops have been scorched to death, while much of the wheat planted had not even germinated.
Livestock farmers have been feeling the pressure as feed for their animals had grown scarce, and many have sold entire herds, said Agri Western Cape.
Bredell said provincial authorities would hold a drought dialogue this week with relevant stakeholders and experts.
“Part of the agenda to be discussed includes identifying better water management strategies and addressing ways to become more resilient to drought in the future.”
Cape Argus