Cape Town's six major dams are holding just 78.2% of total capacity this week — a steep fall from 78.7% at the same point last year.
Combined system · Data as of 17 July 2026
78.2%
702,527 ML stored of 898,221 ML total capacity.
▼0.5 pts vs 17 July 2025 (78.7%)
Key indicators · dam storage
Water stored
702.5 Gl
▼ 4.4 Gl vs last year
YoY gap
-0.5pts
vs same week 2025
Highest dam
99.9%
Wemmershoek · was 83.9% in 2025
Lowest dam
56.2%
Steenbras Lower · was 74.1% in 2025
Rainfall — last 12 weeks
mm per week · 2026 vs 2025
Rainfall · July
14 mm
▼ 102 mm vs July 2025
Rainfall · last 12 weeks
230 mm
▼ 68 mm vs same period 2025
Weekly precipitation, Cape Town
2026 (this year)2025 (prior year)
Over the last 12 weeks, Cape Town has received 68 mm less rainfall than the same period in 2025 — a 23% deficit.
Weekly trend — how the gap widened
System total % · Jan–Apr 2026 vs 2025
Combined storage, week by week
2026 (this year)2025 (prior year)
The gap between the two years has widened steadily, from early in the year to a 0.5-point deficit this week. Cape Town is currently at 78.2% compared to 78.7% this time last year.