IVRS remains strong despite minor decline this week
The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) remains in an impressive state, with its level remaining above the 100% mark despite a decline this week compared to the week before.
The system has recorded a marginal decline from 102.7% last week to 102.5% this week. The system is the biggest in the country and is the pillar that props up the economy of Gauteng, the economic hub of the country, and is also responsible for supplying water to Eskom and Sasol.
Last year during the same period, the system was at 90.0%. The levels of the system have been influenced by variations over the weeks in some of the major dams feeding into it. For example, the Vaal Dam has slightly improved from 108.6% last week to 109.0% this week – recording a rise of 0.4%. Compared with its situation at the same time last year, the dam is still healthier as then it was sitting at 99.1%.
The Grootdraai Dam recorded a slight decrease, moving to 101.6% this week from 101.5% last week. The dam levels have fallen by 0.1%. Last year during the same period, the Grootdraai Dam was still comfortable but below the 100% mark at 91.4%.
Regarding the catchment on the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, Katse Dam this week is sitting at 97.8%, while last week it was at 98.4%. The dam has decreased, but this is still a lot better than the level of last year at the same period, when the Dam was at 75.2%.
The Sterkfontein Dam, which provided a lifeline to Gauteng when the levels of the Vaal Dam took a serious knock at the height of an ugly drought, is currently at 101.0%. Judged against last year’s levels at the same period, the dam stood at 98.7%. This reserve dam for the IVRS must always be above 90% of capacity.
The Mohale Dam, also in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, continues to rise, this week recording 97.4% from 97.1% last week.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) wishes to thank both the public, agriculture and industries benefiting from the Integrated Vaal River System for using water sparingly – reiterating that were it not for their cooperation, the situation would have been different.
For more information, contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 874 2942
