Water users urged to continue using water sparingly

The recent rains that soaked most parts of the country have made a significant impact in water levels in some parts of the country, particularly, the national average.

A weekly state of the reservoirs report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation early this week paints a beautiful picture that the impact of summer rains is felt in some areas but there are still some areas across the country that have not yet recovered from drought effects.

The Department wishes to remind all water users that South Africa remains a water scarce country, therefore, efforts need to be doubled to inculcate the culture of saving the available water resources in efforts to ensure water security.

This week’s report shows that water stored in the country’s reservoirs is at 88.7% this week, an upsurge from 84.6 last week.

Whilst nationally, the picture looks good, the Department is aware of communities facing water shortages due to various challenges faced by Water Service Authorities serving them.

In Gauteng, the Integrated Vaal River System with 14 dams has recorded a meaningful increase, moving from 91% last week to 95.7% this week. The system was notably boosted by dams such as the iconic Vaal Dam which is stable at 103.4%. The reserve dam, Sterkfontein is equally full at 100.8%.

In contrast, one major system in Eastern Cape, the Algoa Water Supply System with five dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounding areas is still struggling to recover at 17.9%. Kouga Dam recorded 15.6 this week, Groendal Dam is at 24.6% and Impofu at 15.7%. The Amathole Water Supply System with four dams supplying water to Buffalo City and Amathole District is equally low at 29.8%.

Meanwhile in Free State, the Bloemfontein Water Supply System with four dams supplying water to Mangaung has receive a massive boost, climbing from 44.8% last year to 95% this week. Rustfontein Dam is at 102.3% and Groothoek at 101.5%.

The Polokwane Water Supply System with dams supplying water to Polokwane and surrounding areas is at 90.8% this week. In the system, Flag Boshielo Dam is at 88.7% and Ebenezer Dam is at 96.5%. Still in Limpopo, the Levuvhu Water Supply System with dams supplying water to Thohoyandou and surrounding areas is stable at 99.9% this week. Nandoni Dam is full at 101.6%, Albasini Dam at 98.5% and Vondo Dam 92.4%.

The winter rains experienced in Western Cape, have left the Cape Town Water Supply System in a stable state at 96.4%. some of the dams in the system such as Voëlvlei, Berg River and Theewaterskloof recorded 93.5%, 98.6% and 98.1% respectively.

In KwaZulu- Natal, dams in Umgeni Water Supply System such as Spring Groove (78.5%), Inanda (83.6%), Midmar (88.3%) and Nagle (92.2%) are stable. As a result, the system is equally stable at 73.2%.

In Mpumalanga, the provincial water storage is at 87.4. Dams such as Witbank, Middelburg, Loskop are stable at 93.4%, 95.7% and 102% respectively.

The North West provincial water storage is at 71% and the Crocodile West Water Supply System with dams supplying water to the province is stable at 90.8%.

Source: Government of South Africa

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