Mpumalanga water levels stable
The water levels in the Mpumalanga Province look stable with a slight improvement on the average dam levels. The latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 12 February 2024 shows that the average dam levels in the province recorded a further increase from last week’s 97.8% to 98.1%, and in the Water Management Areas (WMA), the Olifants WMA slight increased from 87.5% to 87.7% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA remained unchanged at 97.5%.
In terms of districts, Ehlanzeni and Nkangala remained unchanged at 100.0% and 99.9% respectively, while Gert Sibande recorded an increase from 95.3% to 95.9%. The listed dams in the three districts recorded mixed results, with the dams in Ehlanzeni recording some improvements, some declines and others remaining unchanged whilst the dams in Gert Sibande and Nkangala recorded improvements and declines.
In the Ehlanzeni District and the Lowveld, the listed dams that recorded some improvements include Witklip increasing from 100.4% to 100.6%, Inyaka from 100.2% to 100.4% and Ohrigstad from 74.1% to 75.0%.
Dams that remained unchanged in the Ehlanzeni District include Longmere at 100.9%, Klipkopjes at 100.0%, Kwena at 100.6% and Da Gama at 100.3%.
On the downside in Ehlanzeni District and the Lowveld, Blyderivierspoort dropped from 100.7% to 100.6%, Buffelskloof from 100.6% to 100.5%, Driekoppies from 100.6% to 100.5% and Primkop from 101.9% to 100.2%.
The listed dams that recorded some improvements in water levels in Gert Sibande District include Grootdraai Dam from 95.1% to 97.0%. Nooitgedacht from 100.1% to 101.1%, Vygeboom from 100.9% to 101.0%, Westoe from 62.6% to 64.7%.
On the downside in Gert Sibande District, Jericho dropped from 75.0% to 74.6%, Morgenstond from 96.1% to 95.8% and Heyshope from 100.5% to 100.3%.
The listed dams that recorded some improvements in Nkangala District include Witbank Dam increasing from 98.3% to 98.5% and Middelburg Dam increasing from 94.1% to 95.3%.
Declining in water levels in Nkangala District, Loskop Dam dropped from 100.8% to 100.7% and Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo Dam dropped from 100.4% to 100.2%.
Despite the improvements in water levels in the Mpumalanga Province, the Department of Water and Sanitation encourages the public to continue using water wisely and sparingly, and be more conservative taking into account that South Africa is a water scarce and every drop counts as water has no substitute.
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 060 561 8935 or Themba Khoza on 066 301 6962
