The downward trend in the Mpumalanga water levels has persisted. Mpumalanga continues to record drops in water levels in the listed dams and catchment management areas. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS)weekly state of reservoirs report of 12th July 2021shows that the average water levels in the listed dams in the Mpumalanga recorded another drop from last week’s 84.4%to 84.1%this week. This is about 11.9% better than the same period last year when the water volume stood at 72.2%.
In the water management areas (WMA), the Olifants dropped from 77.3% to 77.0% and the Inkomati-Usuthu dropped from 90.6% to 90.4%.
This week’s report also shows that only two listed dams recorded some improvement and the majority of the dams in the Ehlanzeni District remained unchanged. On the upward mode, Ohrigstad Dam in the Lowveld slightly increased from 70.1%to 70.8% and Nooitgedacht Dam in the Gert Sibande District also slightly increased from 94.5% to 94.8%.
Read: Cape Town Dam Levels Increase to 93.2%
The majority of listed dams in Ehlanzeni District remained unchanged over the week. Driekoppies Dam remained unchanged at 100.2%, Longmere at 96.9%, Klipkopjes at 99.6%, Primkop at 100.2%, Kwena at 100.0% and Da Gama at 98.4%. Dropping in water levels, Blyderivierpoort Dam dropped from 100.2% to 100.1%, Buffelskloof from 99.2% to 98.6%, Witklip from 98.6% to 98.3% and Inyaka from 85.0% to 84.8%.
The majority of dams in the Gert Sibande District recorded declines in water levels. Grootdraai Dam dropped from 86.5% to 85.6%, Vygeboom from 99.3% to 99.0%, Jericho from 77.6% to 76.8%, Westoe from 77.2% to 70.8%, Morgenstond from 84.9% to 84.8% and Heyshope from 85.8% to 85.6%.
All the listed dams in the Nkangala District recorded declines in water volumes. Witbank Dam dropped from 92.8% to 92.2%, Middelburg from 87.9% to 87.3%, Loskop from 96.4% to 96.1% and Rhenosterkop from 8.5% to 8.3%.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has urged the public to be wiser and use the available water in a sparing and conservative manner, especially as we are in the dry winter season.
