Decline in Grootdraai Dam levels continue

Water levels continue to drop in the Grootdraai Dam in the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) in Standerton in the Gert Sibande District of the Mpumalanga Province.

According to the latest Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of July 1, the Grootdraai Dam recorded a 0.5% drop in water levels from last week’s 88.8% to 88.3%.

In terms of the other listed dams in the Gert Sibande District, the picture shows mixed results with only Jericho Dam recording a slight improvement from 68.7% to 69.0%. Vygeboom and Morgenstond dams remained unchanged at 100.2% and 84.0%, respectively.

The other dams that recorded declines in water levels include Nooitgedacht dropping from 89.4% to 89.0%, Westoe from 58.9% to 58.4%, and Heyshope from 99.9% to 99.7%.

The DWS report also shows that the average dam levels in the Mpumalanga Province dropped from 94.2% to 94.0%.

In the Water Management Areas (WMA), the Olifants WMA dropped from 84.5% to 84.3% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA dropped from 94.8% to 94.6%.

Water levels also dropped per district recorded mixed results with Ehlanzeni dropping from 98.3% to 97.9%, Gert Sibande from 90.8% to 90.6%, and Nkangala recording a slight increase from 95.9% to 96.0%.

In light of the continuous decline in water levels, the Department of Water and Sanitation calls on the public to be responsible water users and be more conservative in their water use, fix leaks, and prevent the unnecessary loss of precious water as South Africa is a dry and water scarce country and water has no substitute.