Released water from Katse Dam
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) hereby makes the correction that the water released from the Katse Dam in the Lesotho highlands as per the authorisation of the DWS Director-General Ms. Margaret-Ann Diedricks, has NOY YET reached the abstraction weir at Aliwal North.
What was observed at the weir at 04h00 this morning was rather only storm water. This release is necessary to restore and stabilise water levels in the Upper Orange River (upstream from Gariep Dam) to enable abstractions for domestic use, especially at Aliwal North in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.
As previously indicated, this release is done in terms of the bilateral agreement between the governments of the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
This is one of the measures taken to advise on and prevent unauthorised use of this water as the water, once it reaches Aliwal North, is meant for human consumption and not for other uses. It is also necessary for all to desist from any acts that could result in illegal abstraction of this water. The DWS will continue to monitor the situation and give updates when necessary.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau, Director Media Liaison on
Cell: 082 874 2942
E-mail: rataus@dwa.gov.za
