DURBAN: The Department of Water and Sanitation(DWS) has urged members of the public to continue with stringent water saving efforts until dams increased to acceptable levels.
The latest report indicated that average dam levels have dropped from 65,9% last week to 65,0%. However, more rains are expected.
“There is a good summer circulation pattern developing .This summer is completely different to last year where we had the El Nino circulation influencing our rainfall over the central parts of the country. This summer, is going to be different,” said DWS spokesman Sputnik Ratau.
The Umgeni Dam system in KwaZulu-Natal, which has five dams serving Durban and the Msunduzi Municipality in Pietermaritzburg, decreased from 54,5% to 53,7%. The system was at 45,2% in the same period last year. Albert Falls is at 23,9%, down from 24,7%. Inanda decreased from 58,9% to 58,2% and Hazelmere decreased from 99,4% to 98,3%.
“Currently, the Bloemfontein System, with four dams serving mainly Mangaung, decreased by 0,6% from 38,1% to 37,5%.The dam was at 33,8% during the same time last year,” said Ratau.
In Gauteng, the Vaal Dam is at 85,6% compared to last week when it was 86,5% .The Vaal River System, consisting of 14 dams and serving mainly Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom, experienced a slight decrease .
In the Western Cape, dams levels have decreased slightly from last week to 35,9% .The Theewaterskloof Dam stands at 27,9% down from 52,8%, last year, while the Calitzdorp also dropped to 28,0% from 87,7% and the Leeugamka is at 6,2% from last year’s level of 23,5%.
“The average dam levels for the province at this time last year was 62,1% compared to last week’s average of 36,0%.The City of Cape Town authorities are trying to find ways to curb water use,” Ratau added.
In the Eastern Cape the Algoa System with five dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay is at 31,4% from 31,5%. Last year, the system was recorded at 72,0%. Kouga is stable at 14,5%, the same as last week. Impofu is down to 53,9% from 54,7%; last year it was at 83,1%. Haarlem experienced a slight increase at 23,5%, last week it was at 19,9% while Groendal is at 51,5% from 49,4%.
The Amathole System, with six dams serving Buffalo City increased from 59,2% to 60,7% .Last year it was at 80,3%.
In the Free State the Bloemfontein System, with 4 dams serving mainly Mangaung ,decreased by 0,6% from 38,1% to 37,5.The dam was at 33,8% during the same time last year.
“In the North West ,Setumo is at 92,4% a slight decrease from 92,8% last week .The Crocodile West system which has six dams serving mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg ,decreased slightly to 89,7% this week. Last week, it was at 90,8%. The system was recorded at 88,0% last year,” said Ratau.
The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS)that has 14 dams serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom, decreased by 0.9% from 76,4 to 75,5%. The system was at 51,8% in the same period last year.
The Northern Cape is at 87,8% this week, an increase of 2,2% from 85,6% last week. Karee in the Northern Cape is at 2,6% down from 3,4% last week.
By far Limpopo dams levels are the highest, with Magoebaskloof bursting at seams at 100,1%, Nandoni at 97,8% and De Hoop at 97,1%.
In Mpumalanga dam levels are slightly lower at an average 71,2% from 72,7% last week. The provincial dams are performing satisfactorily with the Blyderivierpoort at 88,7%, Loskop at 92,9% and Ohrigstad at 64,3%.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE