Dams approaching dead storage

Almost all of the dams in the Umgeni Water operational area are lower than they were a year ago and a number of these may reach dead storage by the end of this year if the drought does not break.

The South African Weather Service‘ Kobus Olivier said KZN should not expect good rain before next summer and even then a break in the drought cannot yet be guaranteed.

“El Niño peaked in December but it was so strong that it will take a couple of months to become neutral. It might only go into a neutral phase in winter,” said Olivier.

The Courier reported two weeks ago that the  is predicted to reach 15 percent by August (between five and 15 percent of the dam is silt) and it has become apparent that Midmar and Albert Falls dams may soon face the same fate.

“If good rains are not realised, demand remains at its present level and high temperatures continue, Midmar and Albert Falls could reach dead storage by end 2016, meaning there would be no water left in these dams,” said Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder.
At this time of the year, most – if not all – dams should be full but, the drought that began two years ago has emptied KZN, and the rest of the country’s dams.
In a single year, from February 2015 to February 2016, Hazelmere has dropped from 48 to 34 percent, Midmar dropped from 75 to 46 percent and Albert Falls dropped by a staggering 36 percent from 73 to 37 percent.
To try and prevent such a crisis, Umgeni Water has implemented a 15 percent cut in water usage in the Midmar and Albert Falls supply areas while Sembcorp Siza Water’s supply area is still under 50 and 30 percent restrictions for domestic and business use respectively.
The Lower Tugela Bulk Water Supply Scheme (LTBWSS), a R1,4 billion water scheme that is being built in the Tugela River at Mandeni and is designed to supply 55 million litres per day (Ml/d), will start pumping water in April.
Harichunder said the scheme will be able to take drinking water through a 29 kilometre long pipeline as far south as Ballito, which will free up some water in Hazelmere Dam for redirection to Ethekwini.
“One of the benefits of this scheme is that it will alleviate the effects of the drought and if required in future, the scheme can be expanded to double its capacity from 55Ml/d to 110Ml/d.”

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