Water levels continue to drop in Mpumalanga, with all but three of the listed dams recording declines, according to the latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report released on October 19.

ALSO READ: Lowveld dam levels show some improvement

The three dams – all in the Lowveld in the Ehlanzeni District – recorded unchanged water levels over this period.

As water levels decline and a Super El Niño approaches, the DWS emphasised the importance of water conservation and urges communities to use the available water wisely and sparingly.

Water levels drop across districts

According to the DWS weekly report, the average dam level in Mpumalanga Province dropped from last week’s 98.7% to 98.3%. The Water Management Areas (WMA) also recorded declines, with the Limpopo-Olifants WMA dropping from 99.8% to 99.1%, and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA dropping from 97.8% to 97.5%.

Water levels also dropped in the districts, with Ehlanzeni dropping from 99.9% to 99.6%, Gert Sibande from 97.5% to 97.2%, and Nkangala from 99.6% to 99.0%.

The report shows that water levels decreased in most listed dams in the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga, with the exception of Longemere, Klipkopjes and Primkop dams, which remained unchanged at 101.6%, 100.4% and 101.7% respectively.

ALSO READ: Lowveld dams record improvement in water levels

The listed dams that recorded declines include:

• Kwena (from 99.8% to 99.2%)
• Witklip (from 100.4% to 100.3%)
• Da Gama (from 99.8% to 99.3%)
• Driekoppies (from 100.4% to 100.2%)
• Inyaka (from 100.1% to 99.7%)
• Blyderivierspoort (from 100.2% to 100.1%)
• Buffelskloof (from 100.3% to 100.2%)
• Ohrigstad (from 88.6% to 87.5%)

All the listed dams in the Gert Sibande District recorded declines in water levels, with the Grootdraai Dam dropping from 100.6% to 100.4%, Nooitgedacht from 99.2% to 98.6%, Vygeboom from 100.4% to 100.3%, Jericho from 91.7% to 90.5%, Westoe from 52.5% to 51.9%, Morgenstond from 100.3% to 99.9% and Heyshope from 100.4% to 100.3%.

The report further shows a sharp decline in the Nkangala District, with all the listed dams showing decreases. Witbank Dam dropped from 99.2% to 98.4%, Middelburg Dam from 94.6% to 94.2%, Loskop Dam from 100.2% to 99.5% and Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam from 100.0% to 99.5%.

Department calls on public to report leaks

The department has called on the public to strengthen water conservation efforts and prevent water wastage. It encourages communities to use water wisely by fixing leaking taps and pipes, and to report leaks in bulk pipelines or acts of infrastructure vandalism to the relevant institutions and authorities.

DWS reminds all water users that South Africa is a water-scarce country, requiring responsible and efficient water use, as every drop counts and water has no substitute.