Dam levels continue to decline
The dam levels continue to decline week on week. This is based on an assessment conducted on a weekly basis by the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The assessment conducted on 6 June 2016 has reflected a 0.4 decrease on dam levels which are currently sitting on an average of 53.4% compared with 53.8% of the previous week.
Last year at the same time the dam levels were reported to be at 76.2%. There is therefore a 0.4 to 0.5% fall off week on week.A further fall off of about 10% before the onset of the summer rains can be expected.
There has been a fall off in average dam levels in all provinces.
The Algoa system which consists of 5 dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay reported a 75.9% compared with 76.7% last week which is a decrease of 0.8%.
The Amathola system entailing 6 dams serving Buffalo City, saw a decrease of 0.6% in the previous week. The Cape Town Dams system serving mainly City of Cape Town decreased by 0.6% this week, with the Voelvlei dam sitting at 20.6% a decrease of 0.4% compared to the previous week.
Umgeni Dam system serving mainly eThekwini and Mzinduzi saw a decrease of 1.5%.Other KZN dams which remain dangerously low include Klipfontein at 17.4%, Goedertrouw at 20% and Hluhluwe at 13.4% all are still falling week on week.
The Vaal River system serving mainly Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom was at 62.5% compared with 63.1% last week. The Sterkfontein dam is steady at 89% and The Grootdraai dam has decreased by 1.3% and is now at 84.7%. The Vaal system was at 82.4% at the same time last year.
In the Orange River the Gariep dam is at 53.4% a decrease of 0.7% and Van Der Kloof Dam is at 65.1% which is an increase of 1.1%.
Polokwane System saw a decrease of 0.3% and is currently standing at 51.3%
Of the 211 dams being monitored on a weekly basis 12 dams are below 10%, 64 dams are below 40% of capacity while 18 of the dams are at 100%.
The department has concluded with stakeholder consultations for the Vaal, Orange and Bloemfontein systems and recommendations are being advanced on how to intensify and ensure water supply during the current low dam levels.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
