Despite the good rains over the past weeks, which has substantially improved the flow of the Buffalo River, local dam levels remain critical and water restrictions and ‘pressure reducing’ is continuing.
Hannelie Hickley of uThukela Water in Newcastle said as of Monday the dam levels were: Tom Worthington: 21%, Donald McHardy: 3.2 %, Verdruk Dam: 32%, Preston Pan: 19%, Upper Mpathi 1.4% and Lower Mpathi: 38%. No water has been pumped from these dams for months.
“The Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam level has increased slightly to 55.10%. The releases from the Ntshingwayo dam, into the Buffalo River from where Endumeni and Nquthu receive all their water, has also been cut back during the past month as the rain kept the Buffalo River flowing.
“We are in a crises, we need rain urgently before the winter months. It means that the current 55% water in the Ntshingwayo Dam must sustain all three the Water Service Areas (Amajuba, Endumeni and Newcastle) with water until the next rainy season. The Department of Water Affairs are requesting/ imposing a 30% water restriction in all three the WSA’s.