MPUMALANGA – The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has issued an urgent call for water conservation measures.

The latest weekly DWS state of reservoirs report, released on September 14, shows a decline in water levels in the province.

The average dam levels in the province have plummeted from 95.8% to 95.3% in just one week.

Water management areas (WMAs) have also been severely affected. The Olifants WMA dropped from 88.3% to 87.9%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA decreased from 96% to 95.5%.

The districts in the province have not been spared. Ehlanzeni dropped from 98.5% to 97.8%, Gert Sibande from 92.4% to 92.1% and Nkangala from 98.7% to 98.4%.

The situation worsens when considering specific dams. Notable declines have been recorded, including the Blyderivierspoort dropping from 99.1% to 97.7%, Buffelskloof from 97.8% to 95.2%, and Primkop from 100% to 90.6%.

In the Gert Sibande District, only two dams remained unchanged: Grootdraai at 93.1% and Vygeboom at 100.4%. However, the majority of listed dams in the district, including Nooitgedacht, Jericho, Westoe, Morgenstond and Heyshope, have witnessed significant declines.

The Nkangala District experienced an improvement in the Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam, which increased from 99.3% to 100%. Nevertheless, Witbank, Middelburg and Loskop recorded decreases in their dam levels.

The dams in the Gert Sibande region that recorded declines:

• Nooitgedacht dropping from 89.3% to 88%
  
• Jericho from 80.6% to 79.8%
  
• Westoe from 60.1% to 58%
  
• Morgenstond from 98.5% to 98.3%
  
• Heyshope from 98.9% to 98.7%.