The Department of Water and Sanitation welcomes the ongoing and consistent efforts made by the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government, under the leadership of Premier Sihle Zikalala to alleviate water challenges still experienced in some parts of the province.

 

Departmental Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau says the Department will fully support the provincial government in all its efforts and interventions to ensure that everyone has access to clean water in the province

 

“As a Department, we welcome the great strides being undertaken to ensure long-term interventions are put in place to address water security in the province,” said Ratau.

 

Ratau said this as Premier Zikalala officially launched the province’s Water Master Plan and Borehole Intervention Programme on Tuesday, 28 September 2021.

 

“The launch is timely as the province’s dam levels are declining on a weekly basis. A weekly status of reservoirs report issued early this week has shown a decline from last week’s 66.5% to 66.3%,” Ratau said.

 

Admitting that the drop is minimal, Ratau maintained that given the extreme and unpredictable weather patterns experienced in many parts of the country as a result of the effects of drought, dam levels can take any turn. “Our hydrologists are telling us that we must expect the unexpected this rainy summer season. Dams can further decline or fill up to the maximum,” he said.

 

“It is for this reason that we should not let any drop of water go to waste. Hence we say the intervention by the KZN government is timely,” Ratau added.

 

The Provincial Water Master Plan and Borehole Intervention Programme was launched in the Harry Gwala District Municipality and aims to improve access to safe and clean running water in rural communities.

 

“What is impressive is that the Plan outlines KwaZulu-Natal’s water-related challenges and most importantly, it has the necessary framework which spells out the short, medium and long-term solutions that are required to address the backlogs,” said Ratau.

 

Meanwhile, he said the Department of Water and Sanitation is prioritising the completion of ongoing bulk water projects while also ensuring that others are upgraded to increase their capacity.

 

“One of our successful project upgrade is the Lower Thukela Water Treatment Works which was commissioned in September 2017,” said Ratau

 

The water treatment works produces 34 million litres per day and is one of the biggest bulk potable water infrastructure in the province. The plant abstracts raw water from the Tugela River, which is then processed and stored at a 30 Megalitres reservoir. The reservoir supplies potable water to about 28 000 households and approximately 140 000 people in iLembe District Municipality.

 

The Department has urged residents to continue using water sparingly as most of the province’s dams are minimally declining.

 

Here’s a look at this week’s dam level status in some KwaZulu-Natal dams:

AM

 

STATUS LAST WEEK

 

STATUS THIS WEEK

 

 

 

Midmar

 

91.1%

 

90.6%

 

Hazelmere

 

35.6%

 

34.9%

 

Albert-Falls

 

48.5%

 

48.4%

 

Ntshingwayo

 

71.4%

 

70.8%

 

Zaaihoek

 

75.4%

 

75.4%

 

Inanda

 

85.6%

 

85.1%

 

Woodstock

 

75.7%

 

75.7%

 

Bivane

 

76.6%

 

76.6%

 

Mearns

 

70.6%

 

66.7%

 

Wagendrift

 

87.3%

 

86.3%

Source: Government of South Africa