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Bleak scenario painted as drought threatens to cripple area
The Endumeni is especially hard hit as the small dams feeding the area are all less than 32% with Donald McHardy dam 3% 'full'
A gloomy scenario of stringent water restrictions and possible disruptions in supply was painted at this week’s annual general meeting of uThukela Water in Newcastle.
uThukela Water supplies all the bulk (raw) water to the area which in turn is reticulated by Umzinyathi District Municipality.
The Endumeni is especially hard hit as the small dams feeding the area are all less than 32% with Donald McHardy dam 3% ‘full’.
Dan Govender, chairman of the uThukela Board, said the Buffalo and Ngagane Rivers are historically very dependent on good and sustained rainfalls in the summer months to maintain good flows and to fill the main dam supplies higher up in the catchment areas. The smaller subsidiary dams likewise depend on good rainfalls in their catchment areas to reach good and sufficient water levels.
“As a direct consequence of poor rainfalls during the past rainy season, the water levels in the Buffalo and Ngagane Rivers has, since early December 2014, dropped considerably, and these Rivers are currently being supplied and maintained by an additional extraordinary water release from both of the Ntshingwayo and Zaaihoek Dams.
“Without this additional water supply, there would be zero flow in these rivers – without these vital river resources, the Newcastle area would suffer a 44% reduction in raw water supply – 24% from the Buffalo River and 20% from the Ngagane River – and the effect on the Umzinyathi area would be devastating, reducing their raw water supply by about 95%.
“The level of the Ntshingwayo Dam currently stands at 73%, and the Zaaihoek dam at 82%. It should be noted that the Zaaihoek dam is not a licensed raw water supply extraction point, and that the emergency water supply currently being released from this dam to assist with the drought situation, is at the discretion of the Department of Water Affairs, who has other contractual obligations concerning this water resource.
Dam levels are currently reflected as: Donald McHardy (3%), Tom Worthington (33%), Verdruk (45%), Preston Pan (16%), and Lower (0% / Contaminated) & Upper Mpati (20%).
“The Dundee, Glencoe, Sibongile, and Hattingspruit areas are consequently now being almost exclusively supplied from the Buffalo River, via the releases of additional water flows from the Ntshingwayo Dam. The Emadlangeni (Utrecht) local town perennial Dorpspruit River and dam level is currently perilously low at 24%, and this town could soon be fully dependant on a supply from the Ngagane Water Purification Plant via the Ntshingwayo Dam.
“It is also significant to note that the Buffalo and Ngagane raw water resources are also shared by other vital economic sectors of the region i.e., agriculture, mining, and industry; and that these sectors have already been adversely affected by the low river levels in terms of production output.”
RECOMMENDED WATER SAVING MEASURES
* All sectors should reduce water consumptions in a controlled and responsible manner, limiting use to the absolutely essential in order to reduce excessive and unnecessary demands on a diminishing and scarce resource.
* Water losses should be reduced by fixing leaking taps and pipes, or reporting them to the relevant authorities.
* The implementation of controlled water conservation and demand management measures by the authorities (already in place).
* Regional water planning and monitoring of drought conditions, and the planning of possible austerity measures to properly manage the situation (already in place).
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