The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reminds the public that water conservation and wise use of available water remain crucial as Mpumalanga records a drop in water levels.

The latest DWS Weekly State of Reservoirs Report, released on September 28, shows that the average dam levels in the province dropped from 99.3% to 98.9%.

The province’s Water Management Areas (WMAs) also declined, with the Limpopo-Olifants WMA dropping from 99.7% to 99.5% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA from 98.2% to 98.0%.

In the three districts of Mpumalanga, Ehlanzeni remained unchanged at 99.8%, while Gert Sibande and Nkangala declined, dropping from 98.7% to 98.0% and from 99.9% to 99.5%, respectively.

The report also shows that the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District recorded mixed results, with most listed dams remaining unchanged, a few recording slight improvements and only two recording declines.

The dams which recorded unchanged water levels include Blyderivierpoort at 100.2%, Buffelskloof at 100.3%, Driekoppies at 99.9%, Witklip at 100.4%, and Ohrigstad at 89.1%.

In positive, upward trends, Kwena increased slightly from 99.9% to 100.0%, Da Gama from 99.8% to 100.1%, Longmere from 101.1% to 101.6%, and Klipkopjes from 99.6% to 99.8%.

Dams that recorded declines in the Lowveld include Primkop, from 103.0% to 101.3%, and Inyaka, from 100.2% to 100.1%.

Most dams in Gert Sibande District recorded declines in water volumes, except Vygeboom and Morgenstond, which improved from 99.7% to 100.3% and from 100.4% to 100.5%, respectively.

Dams that recorded declines in water levels include Grootdraai, which dropped from 102.9% to 101.2%; Nooitgedacht, from 98.3% to 98.1%; Jericho, from 92.1% to 91.8%; Westoe, from 54.5% to 53.3%; and Heyshope, from 101.8% to 101.2%.

All the listed dams in Nkangala District recorded declines in water levels. Witbank Dam dropped from 99.0% to 98.9%, Middelburg Dam from 97.6% to 95.7%, Loskop Dam from 100.3% to 100.2%, and Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo Dam from 100.2% to 99.6%.

DWS reminds water users that every drop counts, and everyone is responsible for using available water sparingly to ensure a sustainable and reliable water supply for all, especially with the South African Weather Service predicting a very strong El Niño weather outlook.