Public urged to use water wisely despite improvements in Mpumalanga water levels

According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of January 31, the average water levels in the listed dams in Mpumalanga slightly increased from 92.5% to 92.7% and in the water management areas (WMA), the Olifants increased from 80.8% to 81.7%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu increased from 98.3% to 98.8%.

Most of the listed dams in the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District recorded increases, but a few remained unchanged. These include Klipkopjes at 100%, Primkop at 101.1% and Kwena at 101.0%.

The dams that recorded increases include Blyderivierpoort increasing from 100.6% to 101.8%, Buffelskloof from 100.5% to 100.6%, Driekoppies from 101.1% to 101.3%, Longmere from 89.9% to 99.3%, Witklip from 100.3% to 100.9%, Da Gama from 99.8% to 100.3%, Inyaka from 80.8% to 82.8% and Ohrigstad from 37.4% to 39.5%.

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The Gert Sibande District saw most of the listed dams decreasing in water volumes and only the Nooitgedacht and Vygeboom recording improvements, increasing from 91.2% to 97.3% and 101.5% to 102.1% respectively.

The dams that recorded declines in the Gert Sibande District include Grootdraai Dam from 103.2% to 101.9%, Jericho from 100.1% to 100%, Westoe from 99% to 98.2%, Morgenstond from 99.8% to 99.7% and Heyshope from 100.5% to 100.3%.

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Witbank and Middelburg dams recorded decreases in the Nkangala District. Witbank Dam dropped from 95.9% to 95.6% and Middelburg from 97.8% to 94.6%. Loskop Dam remained unchanged at 101.8% and Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam recorded a slight increase from 17.2% to 17.9%.

The DWS reminded South Africans that the country is still a water-scarce country and encouraged the public to continue using water wisely, sparingly, and in a more conservative manner.