Cape Town: The dam levels in the town are increased by about 20% in one week due to the recent, uncommon rainfall event. Extreme rainfall of this kind is likely only to happen every 20 to 200 years in several of the affected catchments.
Reportedly, Cape Town is now exiting the ‘early drought caution’ stage, with the current dam levels at 70.8% on Monday, May 18, 2026 but residents are still reminded to remain water wise and always use water responsibly; regardless of how much water is in the dams.
Dam Levels and Water Usage
- Current Dam Levels: are 70.8% as of Monday, May 18, 2026. This is an increase of 19.9% compared to the previous week. This is 11.6% more compared to the same time last year, which was 59.2%.
- Water Usage: has increased to 871 million litres of water a day (MLD) from 831 MLD last week. This is 11 MLD above the winter usage target of 860 MLD.
Be Water Wise Even When Dams Are Fuller
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation – Councillor Zahid Badroodien stated that even though this extraordinary rainfall event has been key to filling the dams by almost 20% in a week, they still need to be water wise. They don’t know when they will get rain again, and if it comes, how much they will get and if it is going to fall in the right place, in the catchment areas of dams, so dam levels can increase.
An event such as this one, does not mean the rest of the year will experience above average rainfall. Climate change is affecting weather patterns and rainfall, so this underscores the City’s investment in the water-secure future.
Cape Town is busy working towards diverse water sources in the long-term so that they can depend less on rain-fed dams for the supply. They cannot depend on unpredictable rainfall to fill the dams.
Cllr Badroodien further thanked the Team Cape Town for journeying with them over the past few months and heeding the call to save water. They appreciated their contribution. He said let’s continue to be water wise. Every drop counts when facing the unpredictable rainfall.