LIMPOPO – While the province’s overall dam levels present a picture of relative water health, a stark crisis is unfolding at the Middel-Letaba Dam, now holding less than 10% of its capacity.

According to the latest December report from the Department of Water and Sanitation, Limpopo’s collective dam storage stands at a robust 89.4%, a significant increase from 68.8% at the same time last year.

However, this encouraging provincial figure masks localised distress.

Dams in trouble

The Middel-Letaba Dam, a crucial reservoir on the Middel-Letaba River with a capacity of 172 million cubic metres, has plummeted to a critical 8.3%.

This represents only a marginal increase from 5.1% last week and remains drastically low compared to the 1.1% recorded last December.

The Middel-Letaba Dam is not the only reservoir in trouble, however, as two other dams – Modjadji Dam (44.6%) and Luphephe Dam (47.9%) – are languishing below half capacity.

This stands as the polar opposite of numerous success stories.

Dams at capacity

Other dams, including De Hoop (100.7%), Ebenezer (101.1%), and Nandoni (103.2%), are at or over capacity, contributing heavily to the strong provincial average.

The Tzaneen Dam shows a particularly dramatic recovery, now at 103.5% compared to just 37.8% last year.

This creates a two-tier water situation in the province, with overall security tempered by concerning deficits in specific areas.