Dam levels remain unchanged after recent rainfall
Albert Falls Dam is still sitting below 50% capacity.
AFTER the weekend’s rainfall increased the month-to-date total to 246mm, Umgeni Water reported this made no significant difference to the levels of six major dams in the area.
Shami Harichunder, the corporate stakeholder manager at Umgeni Water, said, this included Mearns, Spring Grove, Midmar, Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda.
Mgeni System dam levels on Friday, September 10:
– Spring Grove: 82% (unchanged).
– Mearns: 90%, (an increase of 8% from a week ago)
– Midmar: 92% (unchanged).
– Albert Falls: 49% (unchanged).
– Nagle: 92% (unchanged).
– Inanda: 87% (unchanged).
“The level of Midmar Dam is being supported by pumping from Spring Grove and Mearns. Albert Falls, the largest dam in KwaZulu-Natal, remains of concern because it has been below 50% for approximately six years. Water is being pumped from Midmar Dam and water transfers are occurring from Inanda Dam to stabilise the level of Albert Falls Dam,” said Harichunder.
He noted that the total raw water storage in the entirety of the Mgeni System is at 76% and is considered acceptable.
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“There is no risk of water supply shortages occurring in the short to medium-term,” he said.
Umgeni Water’s quarterly analysis of water resources within its supply area projects the rainfall for the spring and early summer months.
“As expected, the amount of rainfall received during May and June 2021 in the entire Umgeni Water supply area was below average. However, the outlook for spring and the first half of summer is above average rainfall. This is good news because, if it materialises, dam levels will increase rapidly, thereby improving water resource adequacy,” said Harichunder.
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