Winter Downpours Help Ease Risk of Cape Town Running Dry
- Average dam levels stand at 38.1%, up from 23% a year ago
- City council says more rain is needed to replenish dams
A man carries water at a spring in Cape Town.
Photographer: Bram Janssen/AP Photo
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Fears that Cape Town, South Africa’s second-biggest city and most popular tourist attraction, would run out of water have abated as good winter rains help top up dam levels and ease the worst drought on record.
The six main dams supplying the city are at 38.1 percent of capacity, compared with 31.8 percent a week earlier and just 23 percent a year ago, the city said on its website on Monday. Cape Town’s 4 million residents are using 520 million liters (137 million gallons) a day, above the target of 450 million liters.