Drop in Mpumalanga water levels continues

The drop in water levels in Mpumalanga continues with the temperatures going up.

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 20 August, the average dam levels recorded a 0.6% drop in water volumes from last week’s 78.2% to 77.6%.

Water levels in the Olifants Water Management Area dropped from 69.6% to 69.0% and the Inkomati-Usuthu Water Management Area recorded a drop from 79.0% to 78.6%.

Most of the listed dams in the Ehlanzeni District recorded drops in water levels with Driekoppies and Da Gama dams remaining unchanged at 68.1% and 77.8% respectively and the Longmere Dam the only dam recording an increase from 69.7% to 78.7%.

Inyaka Dam dropped from 72.9% to 72.5%, Kwena Dam dropped from 72.5% to 71.5%, Witklip Dam dropped from 93.0% to 92.1%, Primkop Dam dropped from 86.7% to 82.6% and Klipkopjes Dam dropped from 72.5% to 68.3%.

All the major dams in the Olifants system in the Nkangala District recorded declines in water volumes.

Witbank Dam recorded a decline from 99.3% to 98.6%, water volumes in Middelburg Dam decreased from 97.6% to 97.2% and the Loskop Dam dropped from 98.9% to 98.3%.

The dam levels in the Gert Sibande District continue in the decline mode.

Grootdraai Dam dropped from 87.2% to 86.2%, Nooitgedacht Dam dropped from 91.0% to 90.9%, Vygeboom Dam dropped from 94.0% to 92.7%, Heyshope Dam dropped from 87.4% to 87.3%, Westoe Dam dropped from 52.5% to 50.8%, Jericho Dam dropped from 81.4% to 80.5% and Morgenstond Dam recorded a decline in water volumes from 79.2% to 79.1%

According to the department, it critical that we all work together and use the available water in a more efficient and conservative manner to ensure our water resources are not depleted as water has no substitute.

“Let us stop all the leaks and ensure that no drop of this special resource is lost in an irresponsible manner.”

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation