Further dip in Mpumalanga water levels

Mpumalanga recorded a further dip in water volumes as the levels in most listed dams and water management areas continue to drop.

The latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of October 11 shows that the average water levels in the listed dams in the Mpumalanga dropped from 76.9% last week to 76.8% this week.

ALSO READ: Bomb scare halts Msibi bail application

In the water management areas (WMA) the Olifants dropped from 69.8% to 69.4% and the Inkomati-Usuthu dropped from 85% to 84.7%.

In the Ehlanzeni District and Lowveld, Longmere, Klipkopjes and Primkop dams recorded some improvements in water volumes, increasing from 66.4% to 78.1%, 89.4% to 90.4% and 73.1% to 74.5% respectively.

Da Gama and Inyaka dams remained unchanged at 90% and 78.4%.

On the decline mode, Blyderivierspoort Dam dropped from 84.6% to 84.1%, Buffelskloof from 73.2% to 70%, Driekoppies from 95.1% to 94.8%, Witklip from 87.7% to 87.2%, Kwena from 86% to 83.9% and Ohrigstad went below 50% from 51.5% to 43.8%.

In the Gert Sibande District, the majority of the listed dams recorded some improvement in water volumes with Grootdraai Dam increasing from 73.5% to 73.6%, Nooitgedacht from 94.7% to 94.8%, Vygeboom from 93.2% to 94.8% and Jericho from 76.1% to 76.9%.

ALSO READ: Premier releases MEC Mandla Msibi from his position

Westoe, Morgenstond and Heyshope dams recorded declines, dropping from 49.6% to 48.5%, 81.5% to 81.2% and 84.2% to 84.1% respectively.

In the Nkangala District, Witbank Dam recorded a slight increase from 87.5% to 87.7% and the rest recorded drops in water volumes.

Middelburg Dam dropped from 79.1% to 78.9%, Loskop Dam from 85.3% to 85.2% and the Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam further dropped from 6.9% to 6.8%.

In light of the continuous drop in water volumes, the DWS encouraged members of the public to be more conservative in their water use and use the available water sparingly and wisely.