Cape Town’s dam levels after the recent blast of rain

Cape Town’s dams have received a boost following recent rain across the Western Cape, with overall storage climbing to 76.6%.

The latest combined figures from the City of Cape Town show that 687 898 million litres are currently stored across the six major dams.

That’s up from 75.9% on 4 September.

However, the latest figures also highlight the gap between Cape Town’s water position now and this time last year.

The combined storage level stood at 92.3% on 21 September 2025. This year’s figure is therefore 15.7 percentage points lower.

Dam levels get a boost after rain

The City’s latest figures show increases at most of the major dams compared with the previous week. Berg River is now 94.2% full, up from 91.2%.

Steenbras Upper has also jumped from 83.6% to 95%. Theewaterskloof edged up from 76.3% to 76.8%.

Voëlvlei increased from 58.6% to 59.2%, while Wemmershoek climbed from 88.6% to 89.5%.

Steenbras Lower recorded the biggest percentage increase over the week. Its level rose from 47.7% to 50.4%.

Current Dam Water Levels for Cape Town:

Major dams	Storage
	Ml	%
	Capacity when full	21/9/2026
Berg River	130 010	94.2
Steenbras Lower	33 517	50.4
Steenbras Upper	31 767	95.0
Theewaterskloof	480 188	76.8
Voëlvlei	164 095	59.2
Wemmershoek	58 644	89.5
Total Stored Ml	898 221	687 898
% Storage		76.6

‘Water supply remains secure’

Cape Town has witnessed a drier-than-usual winter in 2026, while large parts of the south-western Western Cape experienced their driest July on record as the global effects of El Niño are being felt.

City officials are trying to avoid a repeat of the 2017/18 Cape Town water crisis, and the looming threat of a ‘Day Zero.’

As such, Dr Zahid Badroodien, Cape Town’s MMC for Water and Sanitation, allayed fears that Capetonians would be hit with water restrictions.

“Our city’s water supply remains secure in the immediate term,” Badroodien said on Monday. “We currently do not anticipate any water shortages.”

However, he did warn that the stored water must support a wider region through the hotter and drier summer months, until the next winter rainfall season.

The Western Cape Water Supply System also supplies other municipalities and the agricultural sector. The City says it is monitoring dam levels, rainfall and water demand.

City urges residents to use water responsibly

Badroodien said the City is continuing with pressure management, leak detection and repairs.

Other measures include pipe replacements and treated effluent use as an alternative water supply. The City is also investing in groundwater abstraction, water reuse and other diversified sources.

“Our water security is a regional responsibility,” Badroodien added. “We are engaging other municipalities as well as other users of the Western Cape water supply system to ensure a coordinated approach.”

“We continue to ask our residents and businesses to please help us reduce our water footprint and our water demand by using water responsibly.”

Click here for the City of Cape Town’s top water-saving tips