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WC Water Update
Statement by Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell.
The average level for dams across the Western Cape for the week starting 11 December is 32% (2016: 52%).
Anton Bredell, the minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape, says the ongoing drought remains a pressing concern.
"We see areas like Beaufort-West continuing to struggle with surface water, which dried up a few months ago. The central Karoo has been a critical area for some time. The province has over the past few years installed boreholes and water supply systems to ensure communities do not run out of water. In Beaufort-West there are already 32 boreholes in place and providing water. The province also assisted in the development of the water reticulation plant that was commissioned in 2013 and provides on average 1.8 million litres of treated water per day."
Bredell praised organisations assisting with drought alleviation in the province. This includes agriculture bodies providing fodder relief, and Humanitarian Aid organisation Gift of the Givers, who are developing additional borehole capacity in Beaufort-West.
"We need the ongoing support of everyone. It is all hands on deck and we remain grateful for the help that is being provided. It has been a long, hard three years for the province, as we continue to fight this ongoing drought."
Meanwhile, alleviation measures continue across the province. This includes the new pipeline in Knysna that will provide relief to the town. The Western Cape Provincial Treasury's recent R95 million budget allocation to the department of Local Government will assist with ongoing drought management.
"R25 million will be used to provide additional drought relief and R55 million will go towards water augmentation initiatives, including boreholes in drought affected parts of the province," says Bredell.
Areas in the province currently most affected by the drought include Beaufort-West and Kannaland, the City of Cape Town, Bitou and Knysna as well as the Matzikama region on the West Coast. The agriculture sector has been acutely affected across the province.
Bredell has called on the public and travellers to the Western Cape to continue to save water in the coming weeks.
"We also caution the public to be water and fire safe over the coming period. There is a great risk of runaway wildfires under the current conditions and we ask for everyone's help to prevent fires. Please use the number 112 to report any fire or other emergency that may come up."
Theewaterskloof is currently at 21% (2016: 45%); Voëlvlei Dam is at 26% (2016: 61%) and Clanwilliam Dam 30% (2016: 82%). Brandvlei Dam is 28% (2016: 48%).
The latest dam level data per the National Department of Water and Sanitation:
James-Brent Styan
Spokesperson for the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell
E-mail: James-Brent.Styan@westerncape.gov.za