Our Dam Levels and Water Status
MARCH 2026 DAM LEVELS AND WATER STATUS: Your water habits make a difference
Provincial dams sit at just 51% of capacity, below the seasonal average. Continued water saving is vital as summer temperatures rise. Even small actions across thousands of households make a significant difference.
The De Bos Dam level currently stands at 71.7%. On the same date last year, levels were at 82.7%. Weekly water usage in Greater Hermanus averaged 16.1 Ml/day, up from 14.6 Ml/day the previous week.
Other dam levels across the Overstrand:
* Buffels River Dam (Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay, Betty’s Bay): 100%
* Kraaibosch Dam (Gansbaai): 82%
* Pearly Beach Dam: 95%
* Koekemoer Dam (Pearly Beach): 40% and
… water restrictions remain in effect in Pearly Beach.
Call for Responsible Usage
Water is a scarce and valuable resource. Ongoing co-operation is essential to maintain sustainable supply and avoid stricter restrictions.
By saving water, we can:
- Preserve dam and groundwater levels
- Maintain future availability for households, businesses, and essential service
Tips for daily water savings:
- Keep showers short
- Turn off taps while brushing teeth or washing dishes
- Run only full loads in washing machines and dishwashers
- Water gardens early morning or late evening
- Repair leaking taps and toilets immediately
- Reuse greywater where possible
Report leaks via the Overstrand Citizen App or call 028 3138111 (available 24/7).
OVERSTRAND DAM LEVELS AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2024
The state of dam levels supplying Overstrand as of 31 October 2024 (with last year’s levels during the same time in brackets):
- De Bos at Hermanus: 100.5% (100.5%)
- Buffelsrivier at Betty’s Bay: 100% (100%)
- Kraaibosch at Gansbaai: 105% (101%)
- Koekemoer at Pearly Beach: 100% (100%)
- Pearly Beach: 86% (63%)
De Bos Dam level update for last week (07 Oct to 13 Oct 2024):
- De Bos Dam level: 100.55 %
- Change in De Bos Dam level from previous week: – 0.38 %.
- Previous year, 13 Oct 2023, Dam level: 101.63 %
- Average daily water consumption: 14.175 million litres per day (previous week: 12.829 million litres per day)
- Rainfall for the week: 0.0 mm.
Water restrictions
Overstrand currently has no water restrictions.
The municipality has a permanent provision that prohibits residents from irrigating gardens between 09:00 and 17:00 in order to prevent unnecessary loss of water through evaporation as per the water services by-law clause 42(1)(f).
Residents are once again reminded that water is a scarce source and must be used sparingly.
Overstrand dam levels: July 2024
The state of dam levels supplying Overstrand at end-July 2024:
Buffelsrivier – 109%
De Bos – 101%
Kraaibosch – 106%
Pearly Beach – 75%
Koekemoer at Pearly Beach – 100%
- The De Bos Dam in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is the main water source for Greater Hermanus, apart from 10 boreholes.
- Rooi-Els, Pringle Bay, and Betty’s Bay are supplied by the Buffels River Dam, while Kleinmond is supplied by the Palmiet River.
- Gansbaai is supplied by the Kraaibosch Dam as well as the Grotte and De Kelders Springs; Stanford is supplied by the Eye Spring and two boreholes; and Pearly Beach is supplied by the Pearly Beach and Koekemoer Dams.
Water restrictions
Overstrand currently has no water restrictions.
The municipality has a permanent provision that prohibits residents from irrigating gardens between 09:00 and 17:00 in order to prevent unnecessary loss of water through evaporation as per the water services by-law clause 42(1)(f).
Residents are once again reminded that water is a scarce source and must be used sparingly.
