Water and Sanitation on KwaZulu-Natal main water supply system

KwaZulu-Natal’s main water supply system above 70%, Department reiterates plea for water conservation

KwaZulu-Natal’s main water supply system, Umgeni, is above average at 72.3% from last week’s 72.7%. This is according to a weekly status of dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Umgeni Water Supply System has five dams, with most being above average. The Midmar Dam is at 88.1% from 88.7% last week, meanwhile Nagle and Inanda Dams have recorded 93.4% and 82.4% respectively. Comparative to the previous week, the dams stood at 94.2% and 83.0%.

Below average is one of the biggest dams in the province which supplies water to the eThekwini Metro, Albert-Falls Dam, is at 47.5% from last week’s 47.6%. Spring Grove Dam has experienced a minimal decline from 76.5% in the previous week to 76.0%.

Taking a further dip on the Mdloti River is the Hazelmere Dam which has recorded 34.0% from 35.1%.

The Department reiterated its appeal to residents to use water sparingly.

“A behavioural change is required from all us to use water with care and this is not just directed to areas which have low water levels, this is for everyone in the country, “said Departmental Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau.

Ratau said South Africa is water scarce and ranked among the driest countries in the world.

“What this means for us as a country is that we have to respect water as a precious and very expensive resource that must be used wisely. We cannot over emphasise this enough,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Driel Barrage Dam has declined from a 100% full capacity to 90.3%, Woodstock Dam has minimally increased from 82.5% to 83.7% and Zaaihoek Dam remains unchanged at 75.4%.

Ntshingwayo Dam has also marginally decreased from 68.0% to 67.3%, Klipfontein Dam from 65.5% to 63.4% and Goedertrouw Dam remaining at 71.3%.

Here’s a look at this week’s dam level status in some KwaZulu-Natal dams:

Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942