More than half of dams within the IVRS record a decline this week
More than half of the 14 dams that form part of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) have declined this week while three have remained the same, with only two recording a slight increase.
This has had an impact on the current levels of the IVRS, which is the biggest of the national water supply systems and serves Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State the Northern Cape. This week, the IVRS hovers at 92.0%, slightly down from 92.4% last week. In the same period last year, it stood at 66.9%. This shows a constant increase in its levels.
Included in the dams that dropped within the system this week is the iconic Vaal Dam. It fell from 103.6% last week to 103.0% this week. The levels of the dam at this time last year were almost half those of the present at 52.0%.
The Grootdraai Dam took a nosedive this week as it declined to 96.6% this week from 98.1% last week. In the preceding year during the same week, the dam stood lower at 91.8%.
In the Free state, the level of the Bloemhof Dam dwindled from 109.0% to 108.4% this week. However, the present level of the dam is higher compared to the 94.9% it recorded at the same time last year.
The Mohale and the Katse dams in Lesotho, which showed signs of restoration in the past weeks, have both recorded slight decreases this week.
Dropping from last week’s 78.3%, the Katse Dam fell for the second consecutive week to 77.8% this week. From a trivial 36.4% last year, the level of the dam has increased considerably to its current state.
Meanwhile, the Mohale Dam still persists in its precariously low state. It fell from 40.3% last week to 39.5% this week and looks set to hover below the neutral 50% mark for some time to come. The dam floated lesser at the same time last year when it was at a shrunken 13.5%.
For the second week in a row, the Sterkfontein Dam, which is a reserve dam in the Free State for the IVRS, has remained stagnant. The dam is presently at 98.5% while last year during the same week is was at 93.2%.
Similarly, the Zaaihoek Dam is still hovering at the 81.0% it recorded last week and this is significantly higher compared to the 64.4% it was at this time last year.
The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly hydrological report shows other dams within the system to be hovering as follows:
- Woodstock - 98.9%
- Jericho - 85.7%
- Westoe – 90.0%
- Morgenstond – 85.8%
- Heyshope – 87.1%
- Nooitgedacht – 97.9%
- Vygeboom – 100.7%
The Department advices water users to turn off the taps and plug the bath or basin when washing and rinsing laundry. The calls for taps not to be left to run continuously are still valid. Whether one uses a washing machine or hand washes clothes, the laundry should be done in loads to avoid excessive user of water.
For more information:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
Hosia Sithole
Cell: 082 723 2442.
