A weekly report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in KwaZulu-Natal has shown a minimal decline in the provincial storage capacity in the current week. Dam levels in the province have declined from last week’s 72.4% to 72.0% this week. In addition, the Umgeni Water Supply System has also recorded a minimal decreased from 83.8% to 83.1%.
Midmar Dam is down from 98.7% to 98.4%. This time last year, it recorded 98.5%. Nagle Dam is this week at 87.8% from 88.0%. It stood at 81.2% during a similar period last year. Albert-Falls Dam is slightly below average at 54.1% from 54.5%. Also experiencing a decline is the Hazelmere Dam at 48.1% from 49.2%. When compared to this time in previous year, the dam recorded 54.8%. Inanda Dam in the Umgeni Water Supply System this time last year stood at 87.0%. Comparative to last year, the dam is above average in the current week recording 95.7% from last week’s 96.5%. Spioenkop, Craigie Burn and Zaaihoek Dams remain unchanged at levels recorded last week of 100.0%, 100.4% and 78.4% respectively.
The Department’s spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the minimal decline should not alarm residents as the province’s main water supply system, Umgeni, remains above average.
“Most dams in the province have recorded above average percentages, with most being above 60%. So people must not panic thinking the province is running out of water. But of course, we would like to urge them to be more cautious in terms of their water usage,” said Ratau.
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Ntshingwayo Dam has decreased from 78.1% last week to 77.3% this week. Although still above average, the Spring Grove is down from 96.7% to 94.9%. Meanwhile, Wagendrift and Goedertrouw Dams are at 99.7% and 74.0%. The dams last week recorded 100.0% and 74.4% respectively. Bivane Dam remains unchanged at 98.8% and Pongolapoort Dam has declined from 58.0% to 57.9%.
The Department called on residents to reports water leaks to their local authorities or the Department’s hotline on 0800 200 200.
“We continue to lose a lot of fresh water through water leaks. It is for this reason that we urge the public to do what is right,” Ratau said.
Admitting that often the reports are not always attended to in time, he said DWS together with its entities and local government continue to work together in order to improve the turnaround time of responding to such calls from residents.
