Dams under pressure

The Dolphin Coast has been placed under water restrictions for the second time this year.

An impending drought and below average rainfall have been named as the cause for the latest bout of restrictions.

Restrictions were first enforced in February after an extreme heat wave dried up reservoirs (‘Water restrictions enforced’, Courier, February 28).

Just over six months later service provider Umgeni Water has reported that Hazelmere Dam, the primary source of water supply in the Ilembe district, is currently at 56 percent opposed to 98 percent in September 2013.

Local service provider Sembcorp Siza Water is one of several working with Umgeni to save water before the situation worsens.

Residents in Ballito, Shakaskraal, Chaka’s Rock, Salt Rock, Sheffield, Tinley Manor, Etete and Nkobongo are affected by the restrictions, which effectively ban the use of hosepipes, washing of driveways, roofs and cars and the use of irrigation systems.

A report by Umgeni Water has stated that rainfall has been below average for the past year and three months.

This, says corporate stakeholder manager Shami Harichunder, has caused dam levels to fall sharply, leading to water shortages.

“This situation has been exacerbated by unusually high spring temperatures and if this trend continues, more excessively hot days will occur in the approaching summer months. High temperatures cause increased evaporation of water from dams.”

Operational meteorologists in South Africa have predicted that the trend of low rainfall is likely to continue until January 2015, particularly in northern and inland KZN.

This could result in a crisis for the Umgeni Water catchment areas as there will not be enough raw water available for Umgeni Water to treat.

Harichunder said the drought’s effects are severe in the Middle South Coast region where the EJ Smith, Nungwane and Umzinto Dams are depleting rapidly – at 11%, 32% and 29% respectively.

The North Coast system, comprising Hazelmere Dam and Imvutshane River, is in a “state of stress”.

“Hazelmere, which supplies parts of Durban and Ilembe, faces the possibility of drought.

The Umvutshane River, which supplies Maphumulo, is almost completely dry. This has resulted in 66% reduction in the volume of water that is being treated,” he said.

Despite this Harichunder maintains there are no immediate concerns about water shortages in the current year, but did warn consumers to tighten the taps.

“Depending on the rainfall levels received during the coming months, this could become an issue into mid-2015. While the Umgeni system is presently in a reasonably healthy state, that does not mean that consumers who are supplied by this system should not be mindful of future prospects of water shortages and inevitable restrictions. If water conservation measures are implemented now, there may be sufficient water available to meet future needs.”

The latest restrictions have drawn an unimpressed response from North Coast residents, who vented on the Courier Facebook page.

Warren du Plessis commented that the water woes only add to the existing electricity problems, while Warren Loader questioned the effect on the livelihood of landscapers, who cannot work without water.

Marlene van Rooyen, Alison Lambros and Jonathan Hein urged the community to pray for rain, especially for local farmers.

On Monday the South African Weather Service (SAWS) issued a storm warning for some parts of KZN this week, indicating severe thunderstorms may be experienced on the North Coast.

It is not known how this will affect the impending drought, if at all.