National water levels record a tiny decline in comparison with last week
The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly status of dams point out that the country’s water levels have recorded a moderate decrease when compared to the same period last week. This week, the overall storage capacity of the country’s reservoirs is at 93.1%, a relatively small reduction from last week’s 93.3%, and a considerable improvement from last year’s 83.1%.
Out of the country’s 14 Water Supply Systems, a mere two have recorded slight improvements. Algoa with dams in water stressed Nelson Mandela Bay increased marginally from 14.7% to 14.8% and Cape Town Water Supply System rose from 74.2% to 75.4%.
Water Supply Systems that are steady and unmoved week on week are: Crocodile East at 100.2%, Luvuvhu at 101.1% and Umhlathuze sits at 100.1%.
The other nine Water Supply Systems have declined: Amathole from 76.3% to 76.2%, Bloemfontein from 99.2% to 99.1%, Butterworth from 99.5% to 99.3%, Crocodile West from 99.9% to 99.6%, Umgeni from 99.6% to 99.1% and Polokwane from 101.6% to 101.5%, Integrated Vaal River System from 100.5% to 100.1%, Klipplaat from 100.2% to 99.7%, Orange from 99.5% to 99.2%,
A total of six out of nine provinces have recorded downwards movements in water levels namely, KwaZulu-Natal from 90.1% to 89.7%, Free State from 101.0% to 100.7%, Gauteng from 100.5% to 100.2%, Limpopo from 88.3% to 88.2%, North West from 81.2% to 81.0% and Northern Cape from 110.3% to 108.8%.
On the improvement segment is Western Cape which increased from 61.6% to 62.8%, Eastern Cape is up slightly from 69.9% to 70% and Mpumalanga is unmoved at 95.2%.
Mpumalanga’s Jericho Dam is sitting at 99.7% from 100.0%, Nooitgedacht Dam which is part of the IVRS supplied by Komati River is at the same level with that of last week at 100.4% and Kwena Dam which is part of Crocodile East Water Supply System is also unmoved at 100.2%,
In KwaZulu-Natal, Goedertrouw supplied by Mhlatuze River is unchanged at 100.1%, Albert Falls Dam which is part of Umgeni Water Supply System declined from 98.4% to 97.7%, Midmar Dam which is also part of Umgeni WSS also decreased moderately from 98.3% last week to 97.4% this week, while Woodstock which is supplied by Tugela River and falls under IVRS is still sitting at the same level at 100.6%.
Gubu Dam which is part of Amathole WSS decreased from 100.5% to 100.4%, Groendal Dam which is part of Algoa Water Supply System in the Eastern Cape continues to be critically low at 21.0% moving further low from last week’s 21.2%, Kouga Dam which is situated in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan currently experiencing water supply challenges sits at a critically low 16.5%, Nahoon Dam which forms part of Amathole Water Supply System has decreased from 94.5% to 94.1% this week.
Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape increased from 75.6% last week to 76.4%, Berg River increased from 84.2% to 87.9%. On the downward movement in as far as Western Cape is concerned is Kammanassie which is alarmingly low at 4.9%, and Northern Cape’s Karee Dam sits at 31.1%.
Vaal Dam which is part of the IVRS has decreased from 104.5% to 102.9%, Gariep Dam which is part of Orange River Water Supply System has recorded a minor decrease from 99.3% to 98.9%, Vanderkloof Dam moved up from 99.8% to 99.9%.
North West’s Hartbeespoort Dam in Crocodile West Water Supply System increased from 99.1% to 99.2%, Roodekopjes decreased from 105.0% to 102.8%. Vaalkop Dam expanded from 90.9% to 92.1% and Roodeplaat Dam which is the component of Crocodile West supplied by Pienaars River has moved down from 100.5% to 100.4%.
De Hoop Dam which is the biggest dam in Limpopo is steady and unchanged at 100.3%, Flag Boshielo Dam which is part of Polokwane Water Supply System has decreased moderately from 102.1% to 102.0% and Nandoni Dam in the far north of Limpopo recorded a minor drop from 101.4% to 101.3%.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has intensified its water saving messages particularly in water stressed areas such as Nelson Mandela Bay and would like to urge other provinces and regions within the country to utilise water with caution.
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Source: Government of South Africa