WC faces water crisis

2003-07-13 21:28

Gerjo Hoffman

Cape Town - Large parts of the Western Cape may face water restrictions this week because of the little rain that has fallen this winter.

Rashid Khan, regional director of the department of water affairs and forestry, said local stakeholders in water affairs would discuss this emergency measure on Wednesday.

"The current rainfall patterns, dam levels and projections will be discussed. Several recommendations could come from the meeting and water restrictions could be one of them," Khan said.

The SA Weather Service confirmed on Sunday that the rainfall for June this year was much lower than the average over the past 30 years.

Khan said levels of dams, especially in the Swartland area, were worrying. The Clanwilliam dam is currently only 13% full.

Wheat farmers in the Swartland may be heading for large-scale losses, as they are not receiving any water from the Clanwilliam dam at present.

The Weather Service earlier predicted that the conditions in the Western Cape could continue until November.

Khan said the situation could still improve if it rained in July or even later.

Although late rains could be more bad news for farmers in the Swartland area, Khan said it would at least increase the level of the dams for summer.

Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organisation of the United Nations confirmed that extraordinary climatic conditions were occurring worldwide.

- Die Burger