The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has urged members of the public to continue with stringent water saving efforts until dam levels are acceptable .
The department released the weekly dam levels report on Tuesday September 26 amidst predictions of rains in parts of the country.
The report indicates that the average dam levels have dropped from 65,9% last week to 65,0%.
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The DWS report comes after the South African Weather Services(SAWS) announced that good spring rains are expected and are likely to recur over days.
SAWS announced that they expect a change in the rain pattern soon.
There is a good summer circulation pattern developing .
This summer is completely different to the previous summer where we had the El Nino circulation influencing our rainfall over the central parts of the country.
This summer is going to be different.
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SAWS further said that they are expecting 15-25 millimeters of rain along with thunderstorms in the Free State.Currently, the Bloemfontein System, with 4 dams serving mainly Mangaung,decreased by 0,6% from 38,1% to 37,5%.
The dam was at 33,8% during the same time last year.
In Gauteng the Vaal Dam is at 85,6% compared to last week when it was 86,5% .
The Vaal River System, consisting of 14 dams and serving mainly Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom experienced a slight decrease.
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In the Western Cape dams levels have decreased slightly from last week to 35,9%.The Theewaterskloof Dam is at 27,9% (2016: 52,8%); Calitzdorpis at 28,0%(2016: 87,7%) and Leeugamka is at 6,2% (2016: 23,5%).The average dam levels for the province at this time last year was 62,1% compared to last week’s average of 36,0%.City of Cape Town authorities are trying to find ways to curb water use .
In the Eastern Cape the Algoa System with 5 dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay is at 31,4% from 31,5%. Last year the system was recorded at 72,0%.Kouga is stable at 14,5% the same as last week.Impofu is down at 53,9% from 54,7%;last year at the same time it was at 83,1%.
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Haarlem experienced a slight increase at 23,5% ,last week it was at 19,9% whilst Groendal is at 51,5% from 49,4%.
The Amathole System, with 6 dams serving Buffalo City increased from 59,2% to 60,7% .Last year this time it was at 80,3%.
In the Free State the Bloemfontein System, with 4 dams serving mainly Mangaung,decreased by 0,6% from 38,1% to 37,5.The dam was at 33,8%during the same time last year.
In the North West ,Setumo is at 92,4% a slight decrease from 92,8% last week .
The Crocodile West system which has six dams serving mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg,decreased slightly to 89,7% this week.Last week it was at 90,8%. The system was recorded at 88,0% last year.
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The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS)that has 14 dams serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom,decreased by 0.9% from 76,4 to 75,5%. The system was at 51,8% in the same period last year.
The Umgeni Dam systemin KwaZulu-Natal which hasfive dams serving eThekwini and Msunduziin Pietermaritzburg, decreased from 54,5% to 53,7%.
The system was at 45,2% in the same period last year.Albert Falls is at 23,9% down from 24,7%.Inanda decreased from 58,9% to 58,2% and Hazelmere decreased from 99,4% to 98,3%.
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The Northern Cape province is at 87,8% this week ,an increase of 2,2% from 85,6% last week .Karee in the Northern Cape is at 2,6% down from 3,4% last week.
By far Limpopo dams levels are the highest,with Magoebaskloof bursting at seams at 100,1%, Nandoni at 97,8% and De Hoop at 97,1%.
In Mpumalanga dam levels are slightly lower at an average 71,2% from 72,7% last week.
The provincial dams are performing satisfactorily with the Blyderivierpoort at 88,7%, Loskop at 92,9% and Ohrigstad at 64,3%.
