Mpumalanga water levels stable, citizens urged to continue using water sparingly
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) calls on citizens in the Mpumalanga Province to use water wisely and sparingly, despite current stable water levels. South Africa is one of the 30 driest countries globally, therefore, DWS highlights the critical importance of water conservation and making every drop count.
The latest weekly state of reservoirs report, dated 27 January 2025, indicates that the average dam levels in Mpumalanga remain unchanged at 94.9% compared to last week. However, the Water Management Areas (WMAs) show mixed trends, with the Limpopo-Olifants WMA declining slightly from 84.6% to 83.9%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA rose marginally from 91.0% to 91.3%.
Mixed results were also recorded across the province’s three districts. Ehlanzeni District experienced an increase in average dam levels, rising from 85.4% to 86.1%, while Gert Sibande and Nkangala Districts reported slight declines, dropping from 97.8% to 97.5% and 98.9% to 98.6%, respectively.
It was a mixed bag in the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District with some listed dams recording improvements whilst others recorded declines in water levels. On the positive, dams which recorded improvements include Driekoppies Dam from 85.4% to 85.5%, Witklip Dam from 94.0% to 95.9%, Primkop Dam from 100.0% to 100.2%, Kwena Dam from 83.4% to 85.5%, Da Gama Dam from 97.9% to 98.9%, and Ohrigstad Dam from 37.1% to 42.2%.
Dams which recorded declines in the Lowveld include Blyderivierpoort Dam dropping from 101.0% to 100.4%, Buffelskloof Dam from 101.0% to 100.8%, Longmere Dam from 98.2% to 93.7%, Klipkopjes Dam from 84.9% to 88.1%, and Inyaka Dam from 82.7% to 82.4%.
Most listed dams in Gert Sibande District recorded declines in water volumes except for Nooitgedacht and Westoe dams which recorded improvements from 99.0% to 101.0% and 89.3% to 91.6%, respectively.
The listed dams which recorded declines include Grootdraai Dam from 103.8% to 102.5%, Vygeboom Dam from 101.1% to 100.3%, Jericho Dam from 80.4% to 80.2%, Morgenstond Dam from 75.9% to 75.3%, and Heyshope Dam from 100.7% to 100.5%
The majority of the listed dams in the Nkangala District recorded declines with the exception of Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo Dam which remained unchanged at 95.8%. The dams which recorded declines include Witbank Daam, dropping from 99.1% to 98.9%, Middelburg Dam from 94.7% to 94.6%, and Loskop Dam from 101.2% to 100.5%.
DWS reiterates the importance of water conservation as a cornerstone of water security in South Africa. Citizens are encouraged to prevent water losses by fixing and reporting leaks promptly.
For more information, contact:
Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
Themba Khoza
Cell: 066 301 6962
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