After a slow start to the rainy season, the Western Cape is finally seeing its dams fill up again—thanks to a stretch of solid rainfall that’s been soaking the province in recent weeks.

It’s the kind of update that brings cautious relief, especially for residents who still remember the water crisis years ago.

Dam Levels Climb Back Above 60%

The latest numbers are in, and things are looking up.

According to data shared by the City of Cape Town on Monday, 9 June, the six major dams across the Western Cape have collectively climbed to 63.2% capacity.

That’s a noticeable jump from the 60.3% recorded the previous week.

While this week’s levels are still slightly behind where we were this time last year (64.8%), the upward trend is a good sign as we head deeper into winter.

Each Major Dam Sees a Lift

Every one of the six major dams saw gains after the recent downpours.

These include the Berg River, Steenbras Lower, Steenbras Upper, Theewaterskloof, Voëlvlei, and Wemmershoek.

The biggest contributor to the province’s water storage, Theewaterskloof, is now sitting at 62.1% capacity.

It holds more than half of the province’s total dam capacity, so any rise here is especially important.

Meanwhile, Voëlvlei, the second largest, is now at 58.2%, also moving in the right direction after the latest rains.

A Not-So-Distant Memory of ‘Day Zero’

If you lived in the Western Cape during 2017 and 2018, you probably haven’t forgotten the stress of the ‘Day Zero’ countdown—a time when the taps nearly ran dry, and the entire region rallied to slash water use.

That period left a lasting impact on how many locals think about water and conservation.

Which begs the question: Are you still practicing water-saving habits at home? For many, those routines became part of daily life, long after the crisis ended.