The latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 13 November 2023 shows that the Mpumalanga Province recorded a slight improvement in water levels over the week. This can be attributed to all listed dams in the Nkangala District, almost half in Ehlanzeni and two in Gert Sibande recording improvements in water levels.
According to the recent DWS weekly report, the average dam levels in the Mpumalanga Province slightly improved from 90.6% to 90.7% whereas in the Water Management Areas (WMAs), the Olifants WMA which covers the Nkangala district increased from 84.1% to 84.4% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA which covers the Ehlanzeni and Gert Sibande districts dropped from 91.6% to 91.5%.
In terms of the districts, Ehlanzeni dropped from 91.8% to 91.6%, Gert Sibande dropped from 86.9% to 86.7% and Nkangala increased from 95.4% to 96.3%.
Most of the listed dams in Ehlanzeni District and the Lowveld recorded declines in water levels with Blyderivierpoort dropping from 88.3% to 87.5%, Klipkopjes from 99.4% to 97.1%, Kwena from 84.2% to 83.4%, Da Gama from 94.6% to 94.1%, Inyaka from 96.2% to 95.9% and Ohrigstad from 58.0% to 56.0%.
The remaining listed dams in the Lowveld recorded improvements in water levels with Buffelskloof increasing from 80.0% to 80.2%, Driekoppies from 96.7% to 96.9%, Longmere from 77.0% to 97.1%, Witklip from 98.2% to 98.5%, and Primkop from 100.4% to 100.9%.
In the Gert Sibande District, the majority of the listed dams recorded declines in water levels with Jericho and Heyshope dams recording some improvements, increasing from 75.7% to 76.2% and 97.4% to 97.5% respectively. Vygeboom Dam remained unchanged at 100.9%.
The listed dams that recorded declines in water levels in the district include Grootdraai dropping from 78.8% to 77.9%, Nooitgedacht from 79.0% to 78.5%, Westoe from 43.1% to 42.5%, and Morgenstond from 97.9% to 97.7%.
All the listed dams in the Nkangala District recorded improvements in water levels. Witbank Dam increased from 93.3% to 94.2%, Middelburg Dam from 91.0% to 91.3%, Loskop Dam from 95.7% to 96.9% and Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo from 96.8% to 97.4%.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) encourages South Africans to be responsible and conservative water users despite the slight improvement in the average dam levels in the Mpumalanga Province. DWS also reminds the public that South Africa is a water scarce country which requires everyone to play a role in water security by using water wisely and sparingly as every drop counts and water has no substitute.
For more information, contact:
Wisane Mavasa
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 060 561 8935
Themba Khoza
Cell: 066 301 6962
