Mpumalanga dam levels better than last year despite slight drop
The latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 20 March 2023 shows that the average dam levels in the Mpumalanga Province recorded a slight 0.1% drop in water volumes from last week’s 99.6% to 99.5%. In the Water Management Areas (WMA), Olifants WMA also recorded a 0.1% from 90.2% to 90.1% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA remained unchanged at 100.5%. This is much better than the same period last year when the average dam levels stood at 93.0%, the Olifants WMA was at 81.7% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA stood at 98.5%.
In terms of the districts, Ehlanzeni slightly dropped from 100.9% to 100.8%, Gert Sibande dropped from 100.6% to 100.5% and Nkangala recorded a slight improvement from 96.7% to 96.8% and this is much better than the 96.1%, 100.0% and 78.7% recorded last year, respectively.
In the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District, only Primkop Dam recorded an improvement increasing from 100.4% to 101.1%. Buffelskloof, Driekoppies, Longmere and Da Gama dams remained unchanged at 100.6%, 101.1%, 101.3% and 100.3% respectively.
Dams recording declines in water volumes included Blyderivierpoort from 101.0% to 100.9%, Klipkopjes from 100.6% to 100.4%, Witklip from 101.1% to 100.9%, Kwena from 100.8% to 100.6%, Inyaka from 100.7% to 100.4% and Ohrigstad from 100.2% to 100.1%.
Morgenstond Dam is the only dam that recorded some improvement in Gert Sibande District, increasing from 98.4% to 99.1%. Vygeboom and Heyshope dams remained unchanged at 100.7% and 100.8% respectively.
On the decline mode, Grootdraai Dam dropped from 101.4% to 101.1%, Nooitgedacht from 100.7% to 100.4%, Jericho from 99.8% to 99.2% and Westoe from 99.4% to 99.2%.
In Nkangala District, only Loskop Dam recorded a decline in water volumes, dropping from 100.4% to 100.1%.
On the upward mode, Witbank Dam increased from 98.4% to 98.8%, Middelburg Dam from 97.7% to 99.3% and Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo Dam further increased from 89.1% to 89.3%.
DWS encourages the public to continue using water wisely and sparingly as South Africa is a water scarce country and water has no substitute.
Enquiries:
Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
E-mail: mavasaw@dws.gov.za
Themba Khoza
Cell: 066 301 6962
