THE weekend’s torrential rainfall has helped lift the levels of some dams in Umgeni Water’s service area.
“Calculations done on Tuesday, 23 April 2019, show that the highest rainfall in the Mgeni System – the largest system in KwaZulu-Natal – on Monday, 22 April occurred at Inanda Dam, which received 88 mm,” said Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder.
“The second-highest amount – 45, 5 mm – fell at Nagle Dam while Midmar Dam received 37 mm. Also in the Mgeni System, Mearns Dam in Mooi River received 21 mm while at Spring Grove Dam in Rosetta, 20 mm was recorded as having been received on 22 April The smallest amount – 12, 8 mm was received at Albert Falls Dam.”
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While some weekend rainfall occurred in catchments and it has already begun making its way into raw water storage infrastructure, a significant amount occurred in urban areas and suburbs which mean it will ultimately end up in stormwater drains.
The levels of dams in the Mgeni System as at 23 April were:
- Mearns: 113%
- Spring Grove: 79%
- Midmar 101%
- Albert Falls: 43%
- Nagle: 96%
- Inanda: 71%
“Current levels of these dams reflect an improvement from a week ago (17 April). The largest improvement was at Mearns Dam, which has increased by approximately 7 per cent in a week due to good rains in Drakensberg catchments and continuing inflow,” Harichunder said.
“Nagle Dam has recorded an increase of almost 3 per cent, due in part to weekend rainfall. Water is being transferred from Mearns Dam to bolster the level of Midmar Dam, while water is being released from Midmar Dam to raise the level of downstream Albert Falls Dam.”
The level of Albert Falls, the largest dam in Umgeni Water’s operational Dam, still remains of concern to Umgeni Water. Insufficient water resources in Albert Falls Dam has necessitated transfer through pumping from Inanda Dam to augment water supply to parts of Durban.
The level of storage in the entire Mgeni System stood at 71, 83 per cent on 23 April.
This means that based on the current storage level, there is no or minimal risk of prolonged supply failure over the next year. This system has to be at a total storage level of 69 per cent or more in order to prevent the possibility of introduction of water-use curtailment measures, such as restrictions.
While there has been marginal improvement in the Mgeni System’s total water resources, when compared to the previous year, consumers are reminded that the need to use water sparingly still remains.
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Umgeni Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation will run hydrological models next month (May) to assess water resource availability at that time, identify possible risks and also evaluate whether the introduction of any curtailment measures are necessary or not in order to ensure adequacy over the next two years.
The upsurge in demand causes stress on a system; therefore, it is important that there are no significant or drastic increases in water demand and use.
In the South Coast within Ugu District, Mhlabatshane Dam received 65 mm rainfall on 22 April while at Nungwane Dam 39, 6 mm rainfall was recorded on the same day.
Three of the four dams in this system, EJ Smith, Nungwane and Umzinto, are full to capacity at 100 per cent each while Mhlabatshane Dam is at 96 per cent.
In Ixopo, Harry Gwala District, 41 mm rainfall was received on 22 April. Home Farm Dam in Ixopo is currently at 106 per cent.
In the north of eThekwini, 5 mm rainfall occurred at Hazelmere Dam, taking the level of this dam to 55 per cent. Hazelmere Dam supplies the northern region of eThekwini and parts of iLembe District.
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