Capacity share
3.6%
A smaller dam, but every percentage point still counts during tight supply.
Individual dam profile
Steenbras Upper
Steenbras Upper is currently at 83.3%, holding 26.6 of its 31.9 gigalitres of capacity. That is 17.6% below the same week last year (100.9%). Against the same-week long-run average, it sits 14.1% below. Relative to 2017's drought benchmark week, it is 19.0% lower.
83.3% full · Updated 14 Sept 2026 26.6 / 31.9 GL
Role in the system
Steenbras Upper makes up 3.6% of total system capacity and currently holds 4.0% of the stored water — fuller than the system as a whole.
Share of stored water
4.0%
Roughly in line with its share of total capacity.
Location
Higher in the Hottentots Holland range above Gordon's Bay.
Steenbras Upper in the Western Cape supply system
Big Six dams shown; Steenbras Upper highlighted.
Outer ring = total capacity · Filled area = current level
Background and reference facts
Steenbras Upper is the younger partner to Steenbras Lower and doubles as the upper reservoir in Cape Town's pumped-storage power scheme.
Dual-purpose asset
Water + power infrastructure
Steenbras Upper is unusual in the Big Six because it also functions as the upper reservoir for the Steenbras pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme.
Sources: Wikipedia
Linked systems
Connected to Palmiet infrastructure
The dam is linked by canal and pipeline to Rockview Dam, tying it into a broader transfer and pumped-storage network beyond normal bulk water supply.
Sources: Wikipedia
Build era
1970s augmentation
Its 1977 construction places it in the same broad era of system expansion as Theewaterskloof, though with a more specialised operational role.
Sources: Wikipedia
Storage trend and same-week benchmarks
Steenbras Upper is tracking below the long-run average for this time of year. It sits 17.6% below the same week last year.
Weekly trend (last 2 years)
Currently 3.9% below the same week last year and 0.2% above the long-run average.
Same-week comparison by year
At 96.9%, this week sits 5.4% below the 2017 drought benchmark.
Recent weekly readings
| Date | Level | Storage | Weekly change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Aug 2026 | 96.9% | 30.8 GL | -1.0 |
| 03 Aug 2026 | 99.2% | 31.5 GL | -1.0 |
| 27 Jul 2026 | 100.2% | 31.9 GL | -1.1 |
| 20 Jul 2026 | 101.3% | 32.2 GL | -0.8 |
| 13 Jul 2026 | 102.1% | 32.5 GL | +3.5 |
| 06 Jul 2026 | 98.6% | 31.4 GL | +12.1 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | 86.5% | 27.5 GL | +2.8 |
| 22 Jun 2026 | 83.7% | 26.6 GL | +0.5 |
| 15 Jun 2026 | 83.2% | 26.5 GL | +0.7 |
| 08 Jun 2026 | 82.5% | 26.2 GL | +1.0 |
| 01 Jun 2026 | 81.5% | 25.9 GL | +1.5 |
| 25 May 2026 | 80.0% | 25.4 GL | +11.0 |