Water and Sanitation on water levels in the country

Water levels improve nationally with the exception of Western Cape

The national water storage in the country has improved, thanks to the recent rains that poured in some parts of the country, increasing from 77.6% last week to 80.6 this week.

All the provinces saw an improvement in water levels this week with the exception of Western Cape whose water levels are below 20%.

The provincial dam levels for this week have been recorded as follows:

  • Gauteng 103.4 % this week, from 101.3% last week
  • Eastern Cape 69% this week, from 68.1% the previous week
  • Free State 97.7% this week, from 92.2% last week
  • Northern Cape 82.1% this week, from 78% the previous week
  • KwaZulu-Natal 64.9% this week, from 64.7% last week
  • Limpopo 77.2% this week, from 76.3% last week
  • Mpumalanga 82% this week, from 81.7% last week
  • North West 74% this week, from 72.9% the previous week
  • Western Cape is low at 16.7%

On the other hand, the Western Cape continues to be in the midst of unprecedented severe strain. The drought stricken province continues to decline week on week from Voelvlei Dam, which supplies Cape Town and is at 13, 8%.  Theewaterskloof is at 10, 1%.

To augment the struggling West Coast areas, the Department will today release water from the Berg River Dam to Misverstand Dam. The Department had to take drastic steps as it was projected that this part of Western Cape is going to run out of water by 24 April 2018.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Umgeni System with five dams serving eThekwini and Msunduzi in Pietermaritzburg increased from 76, 7% to 78, 1%.The system was at 62, 6% the same time last year. Midmar is at 100,6%; Inanda at 74,7%.

In Eastern Cape, the Algoa Water System which supplies water to the drought stricken Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is still low at 24.2%. During  the same period last year, the system was still at a low of 42.3%. Meanwhile the system supplying Buffalo City, Amathole is at 92.4%. Nahoon decreased from 96, 3% to 95 ,5%; Bridle Drift decreased from 81, 9% to 81, 2% and Laing increased from 101, 0% to 100, 5%.

Farmers and water users in Free State breathed a sigh of relief as water levels in various dams increased due to rainfall in recent weeks. The Bloemfontein System increased from 52, 9% to 55, 0% .The system’s feeder dams include Rustfontein dam which is at 50%; Groothoek at 57, 4%; Welbedacht at 65, 7% and Knellpoort at 57%. Most dams are full to capacity, with Bloemhof being at 100, 5% and Gariep at 107, 1%

The Vaal Dam increased from 106, 7% last week to 106, 8%.The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) ( consisting of 14 dams and serving mainly Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom) increased from 89, 3% to 90, 1% .The system was at 86, 7% during the same time last year.

The Crocodile West system –  with 6 dams serving mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg –  increased slightly from 92, 0% to 92, 4%.The system was recorded at 98, 9% last year. Madikwe increased from 59, 8% to 60, 9%. Sehujwane is at 99, 1% and Pella is at 73, 7%.

Nandoni Dam in Limpopo increased from 100, 9% to 101, 4% and De Hoop is at 95, 1%. The Polokwane Water System also recorded in increase this week to 99%, from 97.1% last week.

In Mpumalanga, dams such as Buffelskloof and Bronkhortspruit are  at 84, 5% and 105, 8% respectively.

Whilst water levels have improved, the Department of Water and Sanitation would like to urge water users to use water wisely as the country has not yet recovered from the effects of drought.

Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau:
Cell: 082 874 2942

More on

Share this page

Similar categories to explore