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 100.3% last week to 100.2% this week, going down by 0.1%. 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 91.0%. The decline of the system has been influenced by variations over the weeks in some of the major dams feeding into it. For example, the Vaal Dam has decreased from 107.6% last week to 106.3% this week – recording a fall of 1.3%. Compared with its situation at the same time last year, the dam is still healthier as then it was sitting at 103.6%.
The Grootdraai Dam recorded a slight increase, moving to 101.4% this week from 101.0% last week. The dam has risen by 0.4%. Last year during the same period, the Grootdraai Dam was still comfortably at 101.8%.
With regards to the catchment on the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, Katse Dam this week is sitting at 99.3%, while last week it was at 100.2%. The dam has decreased, but this is still a lot better than the level of last year at the same period, when the Katse Dam was at 77.0%.
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 102.3%. Judged against last year’s levels at the same period, the dam stood at 97.6%. This reserve dam for IVRS must always be above the 90% of capacity.
The Mohale Dam, also in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, continues to rise this week moving up to 71.4% this week from 71.0% 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.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
