KZN dam levels records marginal increase ahead of expected summer rainfall
Dam levels in KwaZulu-Natal have marginally increased as a result of the recent showers in some parts of the province. According to a weekly status of dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week, the province’s water levels are up from last week’s 53.2% to 53.6%. When compared to a similar period last year, an average of 52.6% was recorded.
The Umgeni Water Supply System with five dams supplying water to the eThekwini Metro, Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas is at 63.5% this week, from last week’s 62.3%.
“Most dams being supplied by the Umgeni Supply System have been on the rise week-on-week. The Midmar dam for instance, is at 93.7% this week from 92.5% in the past week,” said the Department’s spokesperson Sputnik Ratau.
He added that the Nagle (80.5%) and Inanda (85.2%) dams are also up this week from 75.8% and 83.0% respectively.
The Spioenkop Dam has experienced a 1% decline from 86.4% last week to 86.3% in the current week. The Craigie Burn Dam is at 70.3% from last week’s 69.1%. Meanwhile the province’s largest dam, Albert-Falls is still below average at 28.7% from 28.6% in the previous week. Also below average is the Pongolapoort Dam at 38.8% from 38.7% last week. This time last year, it stood at 42.0%.
The Woodstock (83.2%), Mearns (94.2%) and Ntshingwayo (70.6%) dams have slightly declined from last week’s 83.5%, 100.1% and 71.1% respectively.
Ratau said to augment the steady increase of dam levels, the Department is funding bulk water projects in several districts across the KZN province.
“In the Ilembe District, we are providing funding for the construction of Ngcebo Bulk Water Supply and Maphumulo Bulk Water Supply Projects. These two projects are expected to service over 700 000 households within Maphumulo and KwaDukuza Local Municipalities,” he said.
Some of the projects include the Greytown Bulk Water Supply Project in Umzinyathi, the funding of the Driefontein Bulk Water Supply Project in Uthukela and construction of the Greater Bulwer Water Supply Project which will benefit over 20 000 households in the Harry Gwala District.
The Department has pleaded with residents to continue using water sparingly and harvest rainwater during the expected summer rainfalls.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
