The Berg River Dam, which can hold 14% of Cape Town’s water capacity, is full, so the sluice has been opened. Photo: Nathan Geffen
The Berg River Dam, which can hold 14% of Cape Town’s water capacity, is full, so the sluice has been opened. Photo: Nathan Geffen

Home » After the Drought: Cape Town’s Gushing Dam Water. Before and After Photos

After the Drought: Cape Town’s Gushing Dam Water. Before and After Photos

In May 2017 we (GroundUp) took photos of Cape Town’s dam levels at the height of the drought. This is what the Berg River looked like then: And this is what it looked like on Saturday: And below is what Theewaterskloof, which can hold more than half of Cape Town’s water at capacity, looked like […]

By Guest Contributor
09-09-20 16:35
in Environment
The Berg River Dam, which can hold 14% of Cape Town’s water capacity, is full, so the sluice has been opened. Photo: Nathan Geffen
The Berg River Dam, which can hold 14% of Cape Town’s water capacity, is full, so the sluice has been opened. Photo: Nathan Geffen

In May 2017 we (GroundUp) took photos of Cape Town’s dam levels at the height of the drought. This is what the Berg River looked like then:

Berg River Dam in May 2017. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Berg River Dam in May 2017. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks

And this is what it looked like on Saturday:

The dam is full and water is being released through a sluice gate. Photo: Faizel Slamang
The dam is full and water is being released through a sluice gate. Photo: Faizel Slamang

And below is what Theewaterskloof, which can hold more than half of Cape Town’s water at capacity, looked like in 2017:

Theewaterskloof Dam in May 2017. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Theewaterskloof Dam in May 2017. Archive photo: Ashraf Hendricks
This is a particularly haunting photo from May 2017, showing how the retreating water levels left dying trees behind. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
This is a particularly haunting photo from May 2017, showing how the retreating water levels left dying trees behind. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

It is now 95% full.

Theewaterskloof Dam in September 2020. Photo: Nathan Geffen
Theewaterskloof Dam in September 2020. Photo: Nathan Geffen

As of Monday, the Berg River dam and both Steenbras dams are full. Theewaterskloof, Voëlvlei and Wemmershoek are all well over 90%. The dam levels are at 96% of their total capacity, by far the fullest they have been in at least five years (source: City of Cape Town’s weekly dam report).

Published originally on GroundUp / © 2020 GroundUp