Low dam levels still require strict adherence to restrictions
The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) latest dam levels’ report dated 22 August 2016, indicated that the country’s average dam levels are steady at 53,3% week on week, i.e. between last week and this week. On the overall there is a slight upward movement due to the recent rains and snowfalls in the Western Cape and the Free State.
This very slight increase is still insignificant when compared to last year at the same time when the average dam levels were at 72,7%. The back of the drought is therefore still not broken.
A quick look at some of the country’s dams and systems can emphasise the point as below:
The Algoa System has 5 dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay. This week it stands at 72.2% compared with 72.9% last week; a decrease of 0.7%.
The Amathole System consists of 6 dams serving Buffalo City. It now stands at 81.9% compared with 82.5% last week, a decrease of 0.6%.
At the Cape Town Dams System there are 6 dams serving mainly the City of Cape Town. The system this week increased by 1.3% to 58.2%, where the Voelvlei Dam has increased by 2.7% to 61.3%. The Clanwilliam Dam is at 99.9%. With all of this activity, water restrictions are to remain in place.
The Umgeni Dam system with 5 dams serving mainly eThekwini and Msinduze this week is at 46.8% compared with 47.1% last week. This shows a decrease of 0.3%. The Hazelmere Dam is at 56.6% showing an increase of 4.3% week on week. Transfers from the uThongathi River are still taking place. The Nagel Dam has decreased by 2% to 68.4%, whilst the Midmar Dam has increased by 0.1% to 45.8%.
Considering that KZN has borne the brunt of this drought, other KZN dams which remain dangerously low are: Klipfontein at 13%, Hluhluwe at 18.9%, and Goedertrouw at 18.1%. All have declined slightly. The current restrictions for Goedertrouw Dam will remain at 15% for industry, 40% for domestic and 80% for irrigation.
Restrictions in Richards Bay and on agricultural use are having a positive impact. Industry has implemented significant water savings measures, and this is most appreciated. The coastal rainfall over the past weeks has had a positive impact on the lakes.
The Vaal River System has 14 dams and serves mainly Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom. It has decreased by 0.2% to 54%. The system was at 75.3% last year. Katse Dam now stands at 47.4% which is a decrease of 0.2% from the previous week. Vaal Dam decreased to 34%, indicating a decrease of 0.5% week on week. The Sterkfontein is up by 0.2% to 89.7% and the Grootdraai is steady 79.1%. Restrictions for the Vaal River system were published in the gazette on 12 August and are effective from the date of publication.
On the Orange River, the Gariep Dam is at 55.7% showing an increase of 1.1% and Van Der Kloof Dam is at 65.7%, indicating a slight increase of 0.2%.
For the Polokwane System with 2 dams, there was a decrease of 0.2% to 36.4%.
The Crocodile West System has 6 dams serving mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenberg. In the week’s measurements it showed a slight decrease of 0.2% to 95%.
The Bloemfontein System comprises of 4 dams serving mainly Mangaung. This week’s 37.1% compared with 36.7% last week showed a slight improvement of 0,4%.
The DWS continues to monitor 211 dams on a weekly basis. Of these at the moment 13 dams are below 10%, 59 dams are below 40%, and 23 dams are above 100%.
In relation to the national storage, the situation is still a great cause for concern. The country needs to continue to intensify the adherence to restrictions where applicable to prevent a spike in useage during the early spring.
Despite the current drought condition and low water levels in some of the country’s dams, the DWS is of the opinion that with all appreciating the need to continue saving water and adhering to the necessary restrictions, the available water can carry all of us till the summer rains envisaged in the next season.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
DWS Media Liaison Director
Cell: 082 874 2942 or 072 024 6794
