A pause in torrential rainfall results in a dip of the country’s dam levels

The weekly report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation has indicated a slight decrease of the water levels in the reservoirs of the country to 94.0% this week, compared to last week’s 96.2%. This is still a notable improvement from last year’s 78.0%. The recent drop in water levels can be attributed to the fact that torrential rainfall that has been experienced in the country over the last couple of weeks have halted.

Most of the country’s Water Supply Systems are on a downward trajectory week on week. The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), the biggest system in the country which is comprised of 14 dams with catchments in four provinces, namely Free State, Northern Cape, Mpumalanga, and North West, declined from last week’s 100.5% to 99.6% this week.

Some of the Water Supply System that have descended in water levels week on week are, Butterworth dropping slightly from 100.4 % last week to 100.2% this week, Cape Town from 76.3% to 75.2% and Algoa Water Supply System regressing further from 17.7% last week to 17.0% this week, Klipplaat dipping moderately from 100.4% last week to 100.3% this week, and lastly the Orange Water Supply System which plummeted from 110.9% to 103.8%.

However, there are some Water Supply Systems that have witnessed an upward movement in water levels namely. These are, Amathole expanding marginally from 96.2% last week to 96.5% this week, Crocodile East from 86.9% to 89.2%, Luvuvhu from 99.5% to 101.4%, Umhlathuze increasing faintly from 95.8% to 96.0%, Polokwane from 102.6% to 103.3% and Umgeni from 98.8% to 99.3%.

A total of four (4) provinces out of nine (9) have experienced overall improvements in water levels. Gauteng water levels broadly experienced a slight increase with the provincial water storage level at 101.8% this week, up from last week’s 101.4% albeit marginally.

Other provinces that have experienced increments in the water levels this week include Limpopo from 84.9% to 85.8%, Mpumalanga from 92.8% to 93.2% and North West from 79.0% to 79.4%.

Provinces that have witnessed reductions in water levels are, Northern Cape from 110.3% to 98.2%, Western Cape from 65.9% last week to 64.3% this week, KwaZulu-Natal declined from 87.8% to 87.2% and Free State decreased from 106.5% to 102.3%.

In as far as major dams are concerned, Gariep Dam, which is South Africa's largest dam experienced a significant drop from 111.7% last week and is sitting at 102.6% this week. This huge decline was influenced by the decrease of Orange Water Supply System. Sterkfontein Dam, a reserve dam within IVRS, is at 100.7%, showing a minor increase from last week’s water level of 100.5%. Vaal Dam has shrunk from 103.2% to 102.2%.

The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to urge residents to utilise the available water sparingly since we are a water scarce country.

Source: Government of South Africa