The Hazelmere Dam level dropped slightly from 35.36 percent on Tuesday February 23 to 35.26 percent recorded on Thursday February 25.
It’s hard to believe that a year ago the Hazelmere Dam level was at 48, 03 percent, according to Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder.
It was the emergency transfer scheme, constructed by Umgeni Water at a cost of R34 million to transfer water from uThongathi River into Hazelmere Dam through a 7, 5km pipeline, that stabilised the level of this dam to mid-30 percent.
“If this emergency scheme was not constructed, Hazelmere Dam would have reached dead storage by now. Dead storage means that surface water would have depleted and all that would have been left in the dam is silt, which cannot be treated,” said Harichunder.
The current water shortages are a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon that occurs irregularly, meaning it does not have a pattern for appearance.
El Nino has three characteristics: it can cause floods, below average rainfall and droughts.
Southern Africa has already experienced a prolonged drought that began two years ago and one of the manifestations of El Nino in KwaZulu-Natal is below-average rainfall.
Umgeni Water has urged consumers in the Mgeni system supply areas to reduce their water consumption by 15 percent. If water savings are achieved now, the amount of water in Midmar and Albert Falls could last until the next rains come.
In the Hazelmere and Ixopo systems 50 percent water restrictions remain in place, and this measure has been effective in managing existing water resources.
The levels of other dams are as follows:
South Coast system:
EJ Smith Dam as at 19/2/’16 = 84, 36 percent. A year ago the level of this dam was 74, 58 percent.
Nungwane = 41, 47 percent as at 19/2/’16. A year ago the level of this dam was 62, 79 percent.
Umzinto = 100, 28 percent as at 19/2/’16. This dam is spilling due to water being transferred into it through an emergency scheme from Mpampinyoni River. The emergency scheme was constructed by Umgeni Water at a cost of R30 million. A year ago the level of this dam was 100, 28 percent.
Ixopo system:
The level of Ixopo Dam as at 19/2/’16 is 18, 06 percent. There has been a slight improvement from its low of 12 percent due to water being transferred into it through an emergency scheme that was constructed by Umgeni Water. A year ago the level of this dam was 103, 42 percent and overflowing.
Mgeni System:
Midmar = 46, 33 percent as at 19/2/2016. A year ago the level of this dam was 75, 23 percent.
Spring Grove = 83, 79 percent as at 19/2/’16. A year ago the level of this dam was 96, 19 percent.
Mearns Dam = 103, 64 percent as at 19/2/’16. This weir is spilling due to rainfall in the Drakensberg catchments. A year ago the level of this dam was 80, 16 percent.
Albert Falls = 37, 81 percent as a 18/2/’16. A year ago the level of this dam was 73, 54 percent.
Nagle = 80, 48% as at 19/2/’16. A year ago the level of this dam was 86, 29 percent.
Inanda = 79, 87 percent as at 19/2/’16. A year ago the level of this dam was 93, 33 percent.
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