The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) calls for intensified water conservation efforts as water levels continue to drop in the Mpumalanga Province, dipping below the 100% mark over the past week.
The latest DWS weekly State of Reservoirs report, released on 02 March 2026 shows that the average dam levels in the Mpumalanga Province recorded a slight decline, dropping below 100%, from 100.0% to 99.8%. Water levels also continue to drop in the Water Management Areas (WMA), with the Limpopo–Olifants WMA dropping from 98.7% to 98.5%, and the Inkomati–Usuthu WMA dropping from 99.8% to 99.7%.
Water levels also dropped in terms of the three districts of the province with Ehlanzeni dropping from 100.7% to 100.6%. Gert Sibande from 99.5% to 99.4%, and Nkangala from 100.1% to 99.8%.
Most of the listed dams in the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District of the Mpumalanga Province are still above 100% but most recorded declines with a few remaining unchanged in water levels. The dams which recorded declines include Kwena from 100.7% to 100.6%, Blyderivierpoort from 101.0% to 100.9%, Buffelskloof from 100.5% to 100.2%, Klipkopjes from 100.2% to 100.0%, Witklip from 100.8% to 100.6%, Inyaka from 100.4% to 100.3%, and Da Gama, the only dam dropping below 100%, from 100.3% to 99.8%.
Dams which recorded unchanged water levels in the Lowveld include Driekoppies at 100.9%, Longmere at 101.1%, Primkop at 101.9%, and Ohrigstad at 100.1%.
The Gert Sibande District recorded mixed results with some listed dams recording improvements while others dropped in water volumes. On the positive side, Grootdraai slightly increased from 100.0% to 100.1%, Nooitgedacht from 99.1% to 100.6%, and Vygeboom from 99.8% to 100.8%.
On the decline, Jericho dropped from 100.0% to 99.4%, Westoe from 82.7% to 80.8%, Morgenstond from 100.7% to 100.1%, and Heyshope from 100.9% to 100.7%.
All the listed dams in Nkangala District recorded declines in water levels with Witbank dropping from 99.0% to 98.7%, Middelburg from 98.3% to 97.3%, Loskop from 100.4% to 100.3%, and Rhenosterkop from 100.5% to 100.2%.
Despite most dams still hovering above the 100% mark, DWS encourages the public to use water wisely and sparingly as water levels continue to drop across the Mpumalanga Province. Furthermore, the Department calls on the public to make water conservation a norm to ensure reliable and sustainable water supply and water security for the current and future generations, as South Africa is a water scarce country.
DWS further encourages the public to protect and safeguard water and sanitation infrastructure, fix all leaks, and report burst pipes to relevant authorities, to prevent water resources pollution and the unnecessary loss of precious water, as every drop counts.
Enquiries:
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Wisane Mavasa
Cell: 060 561 8935
Themba Khoza
Cell: 066 301 6962
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