Water And Sanitation on Mpumalanga dams water level

Mpumalanga dam levels remain stable

The water levels in most of the dams in the Mpumalanga Province remain stable as the Province recorded a slight 0.2% average increase from last week’s 81.5% to 81.7% as recorded in the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 09 April 2018. Water levels in the water management areas also slightly increased, with the Olifants catchment increasing from 73.4% to 74.6% and the Inkomati-Usuthu catchment increasing from 80.0% to 80.5%.

Though the Provincial average in terms of the dam levels slightly increased, some of the major dams in the Province recorded slight declines in the volume of water in storage. In the Nkangala District, Witbank Dam decreased from 100.7% to 99.5% and the Loskop Dam decreased from 102.2% to 101.2%. In the Gert Sibande District, the Grootdraai Dam decreased from 102.8% to 102.7%, Vygeboom Dam decreased from 101.4% to 101.0% and the Nooitgedacht Dam decreased from 101.8% to 100.7%. Da Gama Dam in the Ehlanzeni District recorded a decline in the volume of water from 85.5% to 84.7%.

In relation to increases in water volumes, the Driekoppies Dam was the major beneficiary of the recent rains as it finally reached the 60%, moving from 59.5% last week to record 60.0% on 09 April 2018. The other dams that recorded increases in water volumes in the Ehlanzeni District are Longemere Dam (from 65.5% to 78.1), Witklip Dam (from 97.3% to 98.2%), Primkop Dam (from 97.0% to 98.1%), Kwena Dam (from 68.8% to 69.4%) and Inyaka Dam (from 77.4% to 77.8%).

In the Gert Sibande District; Jericho Dam increased from 88.9% to 91.0%, Westoe Dam increased from 75.9% to 78.8%, Morgenstond Dam increased from 77.8% to 79.6% and Heyshope Dam increased from 87.9% to 88.2%.

Middleburg Dam in the Nkangala District recorded an increase from 93.6% to 95.2%.

Though the water levels in the Provincial dams and water management areas look stable, it is crucial to strengthen and intensify our water conservation initiatives, especially as we enter the dry winter season. Water is life, so let us use it with respect and wisely.