Hazelmere Dam only up 1% after downpour

The heavens opened and 111.6mm of welcome rain poured into the Ballito area this weekend.

The SA Weather Service’s Durban office measured 7.4mm on Friday May 6, 27.2mm on Saturday May 7 and 77mm on Sunday May 8.

“Rainfall received in the past 72 hours (7 – 9 May) appears to have been localised to coastal areas, and major catchments, among them Upper Mgeni, do not appear to have benefited,” said Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder.

In the Hazelmere system, rainfall received in the past 72 hours amounted to 100mm. As a result the level of Hazelmere Dam has risen by 1 per cent and on May 9, the level of this dam was at 44, 6 per cent  from 43.41 per cent measured on Wednesday, May 4.

Mandatory water restrictions of 50 per cent remain in place as the rainfall received over the past 72 hours has not made a significant difference to the level of Hazelmere Dam.

Hazelmere Dam is still being supported by water transfer into it from the uThongathi River emergency scheme, constructed by Umgeni Water about a year ago at a cost of R34 million to augment water resources.

In the Upper Mgeni system (Mearns, Spring Grove and Midmar dams), a total of 24 mm rainfall was recorded over the past 72 hours. These dams remain in a state of stress, and mandatory restrictions of 15 per cent remain in place.

In the Lower Mgeni system (Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda dams), a total of 114 mm rainfall was recorded over the past 72 hours and water restictions of 15 per cent for the Lower Mgeni system remain.

The amount of water in Midmar and Albert Falls dams will have to last until the next rainfall season begins.

Predictions by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research are that the pattern of below average rainfall is expected to continue until the end of 2016.

The levels of dams in the Lower Mgeni system on May 9 are:

Albert Falls = 33, 01 per cent

Nagle = 78, 49 per cent

Inanda = 76, 61 per cent

Rainfall figures for outlying areas for May 6,7,8 2016.

Maidstone mill area

Friday: 20.8mm

Saturday: 33.6mm

Sunday: 49.3mm

Darnall area

Friday: 12.1mm

Saturday: 5.6mm

Sunday:67.2mm

Amatikulu mill area

Friday: 3.5mm

Saturday: 3.2mm

Sunday: 30.7mm

Gledhow mill area

Friday: 17.9mm

Saturday: 24.3mm

Sunday: 55.3mm

Mt Edgecomb area

127mm for the weekend.

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