South African Dam Levels Today
Weekly water storage updates for all 9 provinces - Vaal Dam, Theewaterskloof, Gariep and 200+ reservoirs. Sourced from the Department of Water and Sanitation. Current as of 2026-06-01.
South Africa's dams are on average 97% full as of Monday, 1 June 2026, down 1 points on the week, 1.3 points higher than the same week last year.
Northern Cape leads the country at 104.7% across 5 tracked dams, while Western Cape sits at the other end at 71.6% - a notable 15.7 point improvement on this week last year.
20 Largest Dams in South Africa - Current Levels
Ranked by full supply capacity (Mm3). Click a dam name for detailed history and trend chart.
| Dam | Province | Capacity (Mm3) | This Week | vs Last Week | vs Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gariep Dam Orange River | Free State | 4903 | 99.6% | -2.7 | +0.4 |
| Vanderkloof Dam Orange River | Free State | 3137 | 101.9% | -3.5 | +2.2 |
| Sterkfontein Dam Nuwejaarspruit | Free State | 2617 | 99.4% | +0.0 | -0.3 |
| Vaal Dam Vaal River | Free State | 2561 | 106.1% | -1.2 | -2.2 |
| Pongolapoort Dam Pongola River | KwaZulu-Natal | 2395 | 85.6% | -0.2 | -9.5 |
| Bloemhof Dam Vaal River | Free State | 1243 | 104.6% | +0.5 | +2.5 |
| Theewaterskloof Dam Riviersonderend | Western Cape | 479 | 73.3% | +1.1 | +12.9 |
| Heyshope Dam Assegaai River | Mpumalanga | 445 | 101.2% | -0.2 | +1.0 |
| Loskop Dam Olifants River | Mpumalanga | 362 | 100.9% | -0.1 | +0.6 |
| Woodstock Dam Tugela River | KwaZulu-Natal | 355 | 93.5% | -1.4 | -4.2 |
| Grootdraai Dam Vaal River | Mpumalanga | 350 | 99.9% | -0.1 | -1.0 |
| De Hoop Dam Steelpoort River | Limpopo | 349 | 100.7% | +0.0 | +0.2 |
| Kalkfontein Dam Riet River | Free State | 325 | 102.7% | -0.3 | +0.7 |
| Goedertrouw Dam Mhlathuze River | KwaZulu-Natal | 301 | 97.3% | -0.3 | -3.1 |
| Brandvlei Dam Lower Brandvlei | Western Cape | 286 | 45.7% | +0.7 | +2.1 |
| Albert Falls Dam Mgeni River | KwaZulu-Natal | 286 | 96.5% | -1.0 | -6.2 |
| Spioenkop Dam Tugela River | KwaZulu-Natal | 271 | 100% | +0.0 | -0.3 |
| Driekoppies Dam Lomati River | Mpumalanga | 251 | 100.7% | -0.1 | +6.9 |
| Umtata Dam Mtata River | Eastern Cape | 245 | 98.6% | -0.1 | -2.9 |
| Inanda Dam Mgeni River | KwaZulu-Natal | 237 | 100.9% | +0.1 | -0.7 |
Dam Levels by Province
Major River Systems by Storage
South African dams grouped by the river they sit on, ranked by total full supply capacity. Percentage is a capacity-weighted average across the dams on that river.
| River | Dams | Total Cap (Mm3) | Avg Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange River | 2 | 8040 | 100.5% |
| Vaal River | 5 | 4258 | 104.8% |
| Nuwejaarspruit | 2 | 2622 | 99.4% |
| Pongola River | 1 | 2395 | 85.6% |
| Olifants River | 5 | 778 | 97.8% |
| Mgeni River | 3 | 759 | 97.5% |
| Tugela River | 2 | 626 | 96.3% |
| Riviersonderend | 1 | 479 | 73.3% |
| Assegaai River | 1 | 445 | 101.2% |
| Crocodile River | 3 | 441 | 100.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions About South African Dam Levels
Are South African dams running dry?
No. As of 2026-06-01, South African dams are on average 97% full nationally. The national system is considered under strain below 60% and in drought territory below 50%. At 97%, aggregate reserves are adequate, but individual catchments can still be in crisis - see the "dams of concern" section above for reservoirs currently below 30% full.
Which province has the lowest dam levels in South Africa?
As of 2026-06-01, Western Cape has the lowest capacity-weighted average dam level at 71.6%, across 44 tracked dams. This is a 15.7 point change on the same week last year (55.9%).
Which province has the highest dam levels in South Africa?
As of 2026-06-01, Northern Cape has the highest capacity-weighted average dam level at 104.7% across 5 tracked dams.
Which are the largest dams in South Africa?
The three largest dams in South Africa by full supply capacity are Gariep Dam on the Orange River (4903 Mm3), Vanderkloof Dam also on the Orange (3137 Mm3), and Sterkfontein Dam in the Free State (2617 Mm3). Together with the Vaal Dam, these four reservoirs hold more water than the rest of the country combined.
When do water restrictions start in South Africa?
Water restrictions in South Africa are typically introduced when the dams in a supply system drop below about 50% combined, and intensify below 30%. Exact thresholds vary by municipality. Cape Town introduced strict Level 6B restrictions when its Big Six dams fell below 30% during the 2017-2018 "Day Zero" drought. Gauteng has a restriction schedule tied to integrated Vaal River System levels managed by Rand Water.
What is full supply capacity (FSC) for a dam?
Full Supply Capacity (FSC) is the maximum volume of water a dam is designed to hold, measured in million cubic metres (Mm3). When a dam is described as "80% full", it means the current water volume is 80% of its FSC. Readings over 100% can happen during very wet periods, when water spills through the crest gates or over the spillway.
How often are dam levels updated?
The Department of Water and Sanitation publishes fresh dam storage readings once a week, and this page is refreshed with the latest official numbers as soon as they are released. The "report date" shown at the top of the page is the date of the most recent official reading. The data currently on this page is from 2026-06-01.
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