The Department of Water and Sanitation’s Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau has expressed caution to water consumers, emphasising that the average water percentages recorded do not warrant for careless water use. According to a weekly status of reservoirs issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Hydrology Unit early this week, most of KwaZulu-Natal dams remain above average ahead of the expected dry winter season in the country. The report has also revealed a minimal increase of the province’s water storage capacity at 74.0% from last week’s 73.9%. Compared to a similar period in the previous year, the overall storage of dams in the province stood at 63.7%. Moreover, the Umgeni Water Supply System with five dams is also above average at 86.1% from 85.7% recorded last week.
According to Mr Ratau, as much as most dams in the province are in a fairly good state, the department cannot overemphasise enough the significance of using water sparingly. “The Albert-Falls Dam this week stood at 56.0% from last week’s 55.3%. This very dam this time last year was a source of concern for the Department as it recorded 43.4%. Hence we continue to call for prudent water use as rainfall patterns are becoming extremely unpredictable each year,” he said.
Current Dam levels
Meanwhile, the Midmar Dam is at 100.4% from 100.5%. The Nagle and Inanda dams have recorded 90.7% and 99.9% respectively. The Dams stood at 89.0% and 99.9% last week. Hazelmere and Spioenkop Dams remain unchanged at 54.0% and 100.1%. The Driel Barrage Dam located on the Tugela River is at 100.7% from 94.7%. Mearns Dam has increased from last week’s 96.3% to 100.4%. Also experiencing an increase are the Spring Grove Dam at 100.0% from 99.1%, Woodstock Dam at 100.0% from 99.3% last week and Goedertrouw Dam up from last week’s 75.0% to 75.2%.
However, some dams have seen a slight decline such as the Ntshingwayo Dam which is down at 81.1% from 81.4% recorded in the past week. Hluhluwe Dam has recorded 98.6% from 99.2%. Pongolapoort Dam is 58.8% from 58.9%. Ratau maintained that the Department continues to monitor the status of dam levels across the
country, in a bid to implement immediate relief to communities affected by water shortages. “We continue to work hand-in-hand with local government and our entities to ensure no household goes by without water,” he said.
“We know as a matter of fact that in the Ugu District for instance, MEC of Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs (GOGTA) Sipho Hlomuka and Ugu Mayor Cllr Sizwe Ngcobo are doing their very best to resolve water challenges there and as a Department, we are hoping to see such proactive-ness from other municipalities. Not just in KZN, but across the country,” Ratau concluded.
