National dam levels record a minimal rise owing to continual rainfall
The weekly status of reservoirs released by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week demonstrate a minimal improvement of water levels compared to same period last week and last year respectively. The recent increase is attributed to continual rainfall in some parts of the country.
This week, the overall storage capacity of the country’s water level sits at 94.3%, a slight increment from last week’s 94.2%, and a notable enhancement from last year’s 85.5%.
Four out of nine provinces have recorded reduction in water levels namely, Free State moved down somewhat from 105.1% to 105.0%, Eastern Cape decreased from 105.8% to 105.5%, Northern Cape dropped from 112.4% to 110.5%, and Western Cape declined from 62.7% to 61.3%.
Three provinces are steady and unmoved: Mpumalanga at 93.3%, Limpopo sits at 87.7%, and North West stands at 73.8%. The only provinces which have witnessed an expansion in their water levels are Gauteng moving up from 100.3% to 100.9% and KwaZulu Natal grew from 87.7% to 88.9%.
One of the major water supply systems which covers several provinces, the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) has moderately diminished from 100.8% last week to 100.6% this week. Algoa, Bloemfontein, Butterworth, Luvuvhu, and Orange River Water Supply Systems have declined week on week.
The Water Supply Systems that has improved in water levels are: Amathole, Crocodile East, Klipplaat, Umhlathuze, Polokwane and Umgeni.
Vaal and Grootdraai Dams which are part of the IVRS have slightly dropped from 106.2% to 106.0% and 102.3% to 101.8%. Both Gariep and Vanderkloof Dams which are part of Orange River Water Supply System have recorded increases from 105.9.% and 105.4% to 106.2% and 106.3% respectively.
In KwaZulu Natal, Albert Falls Dam, an integral part of the Umgeni Water Supply System which supplies water to eThekwini Metro and surrounding areas jumped from 102.4% to 103.1%. Inanda which is also part of Umgeni moved up from 102.8% last week to 103.7% this week.
The drought-stricken Eastern Cape province is among those that have decreased, rising from 63.6% to 65.8%. Waterdown Dam which is part of Klipplaat Water Supply System recorded a minor decline from 100.5% to 100.2%, Gubu Dam which forms part of Amathole Water Supply System has also dropped from 101.1% to 100.8% this week.
Roodeplat Dam which is the component of Crocodile West supplied by Pienaars River is fixed and unmoved at 100.6%.
In the Western Cape, which is a combination of parts that experience rainfall in winter and those that receive rainfall during other seasons have declined slightly from 62.7% to 61.3%.
Major Dams in Limpopo province such as Flag Boshielo which is part of Polokwane Water Supply System is unmoved at 100.9% week on week, De Hoop has recorded marginal improvement from 100.2 to 100.3% and Nandoni has declined from 101.2% to 100.0%.
In Mpumalanga, Nooitgedacht Dam which is part of the IVRS supplied by Komati River has increased from 92.9% to 94,3%, Kwena Dam which is part of Crocodile East Water Supply System is up from 100.2% last week to 100.5% this week.
During the commemoration of World Water Day yesterday 22 March 2022, the Minister of Water and Sanitation Mr Senzo Mchunu announced that groundwater plays an important role in ensuring water security in South Africa, if managed and utilised properly this could be a perfect supplement for surface water. This could go a long way in terms of easing the burden on our dams.
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