'Years' for Theewaterskloof dam to recover from drought
04 February 2018 - 00:00
Cape Town's biggest dam is now so low that it will take a major flood just to saturate the sand - and officials have been urged not to count on significant storage for years to come.
Theewaterskloof dam near Villiersdorp provides about half of Cape Town's water. This week it was just 12.9% full. Farmers have exhausted their allocation and officials are preparing to dredge channels to get access to the remaining water.
Experts said the once-overflowing dam risked becoming obsolete in the short term due to the enormous amount of sediment now exposed to the elements.
"We have a dam that is now desiccated," said Anthony Turton, a water scientist and former specialist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research...
There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.
From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.
For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.
Already subscribed? Sign in below.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.