Drop in Mpumalanga dam levels
The Mpumalanga Province recorded a further drop in water levels in the listed dams for another week in a row.
The Mpumalanga Province recorded a further drop in water levels in the listed dams for another week in a row.
According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 26 November 2018, the average dam levels dropped from last week’s 68.6% to 67.8%.
The drop in water levels also continued in the water management areas, with the Olifants Catchment decreasing from 59.4% to 58.4% and the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment dropping from 70.6% to 70.0%.
In light of the continuing drop in water levels and the rising temperatures leading to water losses through evaporation, the Department of Water and Sanitation would like to encourage the public to be more conservative in using the available water to ensure water security as rain seems to have deserted the country.
All the listed dams in the Ehlanzeni District recorded declines in water volumes. Driekoppies Dam recorded a decrease in water volumes from 62.7% to 62.0%, Witklip Dam decreased from 75.8% to 72.8%, Inyaka Dam decreased from 62.2% to 61.2%, Da Gama Dam decreased 65.9% to 63.6%, Kwena Dam decreased from 46.4% to 44.0%, Blyderivierpoort Dam decreased 47.6% to 44.7%, Klipkopjes Dam decreased 47.2% to 45.8%, Longmere Dam decreased from 73.7% to 71.2% and Primkop Dam decreased 34.8% to 31.1%.
In the Nkangala District, Witbank Dam decreased from 90.9% to 90.6%, Loskop Dam decreased from 85.8% to 84.2% and the Middelburg Dam recorded a slight increase 90.0% to 90.1%.
Dam levels in the Gert Sibande District also continue to drop, with only the Nooitgedacht Dam recording a slight increase from 91.4% to 93.9%. Grootdraai Dam dropped from 77.7% to 77.0%, Vygeboom Dam dropped from 93.7% to 93.6%, Heyshope Dam dropped from 82.5% to 82.3%, Westoe Dam dropped from 49.7% to 49.6%, Morgenstond Dam dropped from 67.2% to 66.5% and Jericho Dam dropped from 70.9% to 69.9%.
The Department of Water and Sanitation would also like to remind the public that South Africa is a water scarce country and that water security is in our hands.
