Release of water from Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme
The Department of Water and Sanitation has granted approval for the release of water from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Water will be released at the release point at Clarens from Katse Dam; this release will be an attempt to address the water challenges in the nearby Free State municipalities. Riparian farmers are hereby duly warned about the possible higher water levels in the Little Caledon and Caledon Rivers.
The aim of the release as indicated is to augment the current storage for future use as the dam levels at the moment are very low due to below normal rainfall. There are water restrictions already in an effort to achieve at least a 20% saving in the Caledon-Modder systems.
The municipalities and the farmers that could be affected have already been notified by the department around this release, this to ensure the affected parties would be ready for any action that might be required of them. Farmers should please take note that the release is not for irrigation purposes but for human consumption.
The date of the release will be communicated to all water users once arrangements have been finalised.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
E-mail: rataus@dws.gov.za
