The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) Weekly State of Reservoirs Report issued this week shows a slight increase in the water storage in the Northern Cape, from last week’s 89.8% to 90%.
The two major river systems in the Northern Cape, the Orange River and the Vaal River are on average 88.1% and 90% respectively.
The Douglas Storage Weir in the Vaal River has increased from 104.4% to 108.3%, the full supply capacity of the Weir is 16.245 million m3.
The Boegoeberg storage weir in the Orange River has increased from 106.5% to 108.4%.
The Spitskop storage weir in the Harts River has this week recorded a decline from 93.8% to 92.9%.
The Vaalharts storage weir in the Vaal River has increased from 75.1% to 80.6%.
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The Karee Dam that provides water to Calvinia remains at 12.7%.
Municipalities, business, civil society and citizenry can conserve water in the Northern Cape by implementing water conservation initiatives such as fixing burst and leaking pipes and regularly monitor boreholes to adhere to recommended yields to avoid over abstracting boreholes. Behavioral change in water consumption will contribute immensely towards improving the water situation in the Northern Cape.
Take note that the Northern Cape has balancing dams, not storage dams. The difference being that storage dams primary purpose is for long term water storage. Balancing dams are designed to act as multipurpose facilities by diverting water into canals, pipelines or they act as pumping stations. Therefore, water availability in the Northern Cape fluctuates and vary from week to week.
