Current rainfalls slightly improve dam levels
Lower than normal rainfall over the next three months will mean the recovery rate could still stretch beyond three years.
THE Department of Water and Sanitation says that while the recent rainfalls are having a slight impact on the country’s dam levels, it is still a far cry from last year’s records. The country’s dam levels increased from 53.5 per cent last week to 53.7 per cent on Wednesday following the recent rainfall. However, in the same month last year, the levels stood at 79.5 per cent.
According to a report compiled by the department’s forecasters, the outlook for the next two to three months is still very bleak, with below-average rainfall expected through to May and above normal temperatures until winter.
“We can expect a recurrence of the relatively good rain showers over the North West, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. We could also still experience isolated heavy rain and thundershowers,” the forecasters said.
The forecasters also noted that El Niño is showing signs of decay and expect it to be ‘towards near-neutral in the winter’. The report said that all provinces, with the exception of the Western Cape and Free State, showed a slight increase in average dam levels over the last week.
However, the report noted that there will be no change to restrictions from the Hazelmere Dam. The department has recommended a 15 per cent restriction on the Umgeni system.
It said the continuing prediction of lower than normal rainfall over the next three months would mean that the recovery rate could still stretch beyond three years.
