IVRS levels are stable despite a drop this week

The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) continues to be at levels higher than it was a year ago and at profoundly safe levels despite a decrease this week from the levels it recorded last week.

The system was at 98.1% last week, and it is presently at 97.4%, signifying a slight drop from last week’s levels. In the same period last year, it stood at 84.0%. This is testimony to the fact that the catchment areas have in the previous rainy season received a fair amount of rainfall.

Consisting of 14 dams, the system is the largest in the country and straddles Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Free State, and the Northern Cape, with South Africa’s leading industries such Eskom and Sasol, and related municipalities being supplied by it.

The Vaal Dam, which is one of the critical dams within the system, is presently just below the 100% mark at 98.5%. This is slightly down from 99.3% it was at last week. Nevertheless, the dam is considerably at a higher level compared to the 88.0% it recorded in the preceding year at the same time.

The Grootdraai Dam also took a slightly knock this week, declining to 97.0% from 97.7% last week. During the same week last year, the dam was even lower at 79.7%.

Currently, the Sterkfontein Dam maintained last week’s levels, recording 100.1%. Last year at the same time, it was slightly higher at 100.4%. The required level of the reserve dam for the IVRS is currently exceeded and this gives encouragement that the system is not under any undue stress, even coming out of the dry winter season for the inland provinces.

Likewise, the Bloemhof Dam saw a drop in levels this week. It recorded a reduction from 103.1% last week to 101.0% this week. Compared to the levels of 105.8% during the same time last year, the dam has maintained good levels over the months.

In Lesotho, both the Mohale and the Katse dams dropped this week from their levels last week.

The Katse Dam fell from last week’s 87.3% to 86.4% this week while during the previous year in the same week it was at lower 65.4%. However, the dam has surged up to the present levels, placing it in a much healthier state.

Now hovering at 99.5%, the Mohale Dam has decreased from the levels of the previous week when it was at 100.1%. Compared to the paltry levels of 31.2% at the same time last year, the dam has made substantial recovery. These levels are impressive and also imply the Lesotho Highlands Water project (LHWP) is currently performing optimally.

There is hope that in the coming months, the expected rains will recharge catchments in the Kingdom of Lesotho, such that both Katse and Mohale Dams can also recover even more.

For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa