Improved water resources as dams are filling up according to Umgeni Water

WATER resources in the Mgeni System are currently in a healthy state at a collective 69, 5 per cent with Midmar Dam level at 100.08 per cent.

This means the amount of water available in the entire system is at an acceptable level and there is no risk of water shortages occurring in the short-term to the medium-term.

“The status of water resources in the Mgeni System will assist in ensuring the security of supply as Government and municipalities accelerate provision of water tanks in informal settlements to try to contain the spread of COVID-19,” said Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Umgeni Water, Shami Harichunder.

“Improved water resources in the entire Mgeni System has been a result of good rains that were received in the upper and lower Mgeni System from April to the present.”

The total amount of rainfall received in the upper Mgeni System during this period amounted to 367mm, which is in line with the monthly average for the autumn months. In the same period, rainfall received in the lower Mgeni System amounted to 117mm, which is below average.

Midmar Dam level overflowing

Midmar Dam has begun spilling after reaching capacity – and a little more – on Wednesday, 15 April.

The level of the dam is at 100, 08 per cent, representing an increase of 0, 5 per cent from a week ago.

“Improved water resources in Midmar Dam has been a result of water releases from upstream Mearns Weir and good rains in the catchments of Mearns Weir and Midmar Dam,” said Harichunder.

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Spills from Midmar Dam will assist in boosting the level of downstream Albert Falls Dam, which has remained consistently at below 40 per cent for almost three years despite the end of the drought. By Wednesday, 15 March, the level of Albert Falls Dam began rising steadily and is currently at 37, 25 per cent – up 0, 5 per cent from the previous day.

If spills from Midmar Dam continue, the level of Albert Falls – the largest dam in the Mgeni System – will increase unabated.

Albert Falls and Midmar are among five dams and a weir in the Mgeni System, the largest system in KwaZulu-Natal that provides for the water needs of an estimated six million consumers in the supply areas of eThekwini, Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu and Ugu.

Other dams in this system are Spring Grove, Nagle and Inanda and the weir is Mearns.

The last time Midmar Dam spilled was in April 2019.

Dam levels

On Wednesday, 15 March, the level of Mearns Weir was at 100 per cent; Spring Grove Dam at 70per cent; Midmar Dam at 100, 08 per cent; Albert Falls Dam at 37, 25 per cent; Nagle Dam at 95 per cent and Inanda Dam at 86 per cent. In the north of Durban, 45 mm rainfall was received at Hazelmere Dam from 1 April which has stabilised Hazelmere Dam at 57 per cent.

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