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Water levels at Theewaterskloof Dam drop, Cape Town declares drought
A boat lying on the sand at the Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it's water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108 km from Cape Town. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it's usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not useable, due to the silt content. The Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town is suffering from one of the worst water shortages in living memory. This has necessitated the Cape Town City Councel to establish stringent water usage restrictions, and unless unexpectedly heavy rains fall soon, the province will begin a cycle of drought. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
Updated on: May 23, 2017 2:10 PM IST
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
A boat lying on the sand at the Theewaterskloof Dam, which has less than 20% of it's water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108 km from Cape Town. This dam is the main water source for the city of Cape Town, and there is only 10% of it's usual capacity left for human consumption, at the last 10% is not useable, due to the silt content. The Western Cape Province, which includes Cape Town is suffering from one of the worst water shortages in living memory. This has necessitated the Cape Town City Councel to establish stringent water usage restrictions, and unless unexpectedly heavy rains fall soon, the province will begin a cycle of drought. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
A bare sand and a narrow body of water facing the sky at Theewaterskloof Dam. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
A dried out fish lying on the sand. Cape Town residents are being urged to reduce daily water usage by a hundred million litres immediately. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
Bare sand and dried tree trunks standing out at Theewaterskloof Dam. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
The Western Cape is experiencing its worst drought in over 113 years and has been declared a disaster area. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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As these levels continue to drop, and the rain remains absent, various spheres of government are putting their heads together to make contingency plans, in case the day comes when the province’s dams dry up completely. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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Lisa Wheeler, secretary of the Theewaterskloof Sports Club, shows where the high water mark of the dam is, which has less than 20% of it's water capacity, near Villiersdorp, about 108Km from Cape Town. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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As dam levels continue to drop, the City of Cape Town is calling on residents to cut non-essential municipal water use immediately. (Rodger Bosch / AFP)
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View Photos in a new improved layoutUpdated on May 23, 2017 2:10 PM
