Dam levels 51,8% as heat wave hits
11 March 2026
Team Cape Town, please stay hydrated during the heat wave this week and only use water for essential purposes, as we manage our dam levels together.
Key reminders:
- Cape Town is not in a drought, however, the window to avoid water restrictions later this year is narrowing. Based on the current water usage trend, dam storage could drop as low as 40% by May if this year’s rainfall is average.
- Cape Town is in an early warning phase that reflects lower-than-expected dam levels and signals the need for continued careful use of water, even though taps are running normally.
- While there is no immediate threat to supply, the system is entering a more sensitive period ahead of winter rainfall.
Current dam levels and how much water Cape Town used
Over the past week, water usage has increased to 1 018 million litres of water a day (MLD) from 1 012MLD last week. This is 43MLD over the usage target.
Cape Town’s dam storage levels currently stand at 51,8%. This will need to last until the next seasonal rainfall cycle.
Public call to save water
‘As Cape Town experiences soaring temperatures this week, our call is for Team Cape Town to please keep hydrated and cool, while remembering to use water wisely and responsibly in and around our homes, businesses and industries, and for essential purposes only.
‘The City has seen higher water usage in recent weeks, which is typical during periods of hotter weather. While this increase in demand is anticipated for this time of year, residents are still encouraged to use water responsibly and limiting non-essential use during peak heat periods.
‘We cannot control and depend on what winter will bring in the face of unpredictable rainfall. We can only control the water we currently have. Let’s not take our supply for granted so we need to continue to work together now towards reducing how much water we use. It has been way over the target of 975 MLD that has been set to help us collectively manage our supply until winter.
‘With dam levels being 17,5% lower compared to last year, and unpredictable rainfall, we have to use water responsibly and be water wise at all times, especially this summer, including this scorching week,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation.
Tips to keep water usage down:
-
Find and fix water leaks on your property.
If dripping taps, leaking toilets and faulty plumbing go undetected and ignored for a long time, a lot of water is wasted. -
Monitor your own usage and make the effort to save water.
About 70% of all water used in the city is used in homes, which is why saving water at home is so critical. Only water the garden at night to prevent evaporation and avoid topping up swimming pools or pool inflatables unnecessarily. -
Report burst municipal pipes immediately to the City through formal channels.
There are various ways to report a leak or a pipe burst:
-
Switch to treated effluent re-use for industrial irrigation or construction purposes.
The City promotes and supplies treated effluent to large water users such as industry, sports clubs, golf clubs, large new developments and schools.
Information:
Listen to the media briefing held on Wednesday 25 February
here.
Caption 1: Dam levels update infographic
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
