Capacity share
14.3%
A smaller dam, but every percentage point still counts during tight supply.
Individual dam profile
Berg River
Berg River is currently at 91.0%, holding 115.7 of its 127.1 gigalitres of capacity. That is 8.6% below the same week last year (99.6%). Against the same-week long-run average, it sits 0.2% below. Relative to 2017's drought benchmark week, it is 30.8% higher.
91.0% full · Updated 14 Sept 2026 115.7 / 127.1 GL
Role in the system
Berg River makes up 14.3% of total system capacity and currently holds 17.3% of the stored water — fuller than the system as a whole.
Share of stored water
17.3%
Fuller than the system average — holding more than its share of the water right now.
Location
Upper Berg River valley near Franschhoek.
Berg River in the Western Cape supply system
Big Six dams shown; Berg River highlighted.
Outer ring = total capacity · Filled area = current level
Background and reference facts
Berg River Dam is the newest of the Big Six and the clearest modern-era augmentation project in the system, designed to capture winter rainfall for later summer supply.
Newest major dam
Opened in 2009
Berg River is the most recent large storage addition in the Cape Town supply system and a useful dividing line between the older municipal dams and newer augmentation infrastructure.
Project milestone
Built on time and on budget
Wikipedia notes the project was completed on time and within budget — notable for a nationally significant water project.
Sources: Wikipedia
Standards
World Commission on Dams guidance
It is described as the first South African dam designed and built in accordance with World Commission on Dams guidelines.
Sources: Wikipedia
Storage trend and same-week benchmarks
Berg River is tracking below the long-run average for this time of year. It sits 8.6% below the same week last year.
Weekly trend (last 2 years)
Currently 9.2% below the same week last year and 4.0% above the long-run average.
Same-week comparison by year
At 92.3%, this week sits 32.1% above the 2017 drought benchmark.
Recent weekly readings
| Date | Level | Storage | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2026 | 92.3% | 120.0 GL | +2.3 |
| 03 Aug 2026 | 90.0% | 117.0 GL | +0.7 |
| 27 Jul 2026 | 89.3% | 116.1 GL | +0.6 |
| 20 Jul 2026 | 88.7% | 115.3 GL | +0.1 |
| 13 Jul 2026 | 88.6% | 115.2 GL | -0.4 |
| 06 Jul 2026 | 89.0% | 115.7 GL | +3.5 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | 85.5% | 111.2 GL | +6.7 |
| 22 Jun 2026 | 78.8% | 102.4 GL | +0.5 |
| 15 Jun 2026 | 78.3% | 101.8 GL | +1.4 |
| 08 Jun 2026 | 76.9% | 100.0 GL | +0.5 |
| 01 Jun 2026 | 76.4% | 99.3 GL | -1.2 |
| 25 May 2026 | 77.6% | 100.9 GL | -0.7 |