The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of June 20 shows that the average water levels in the listed dams in Mpumalanga continue on a decline.
According to the report, the average water levels in the listed dams dropped from last week’s 95.3% to 95.1%, which is 10% higher than the 85.1% recorded last year.
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In the water management areas, the Olifants remained unchanged at 84.3%, which is higher than the 78.1% recorded last year, and the Inkomati-Usuthu dropped from 99.1% to 98.9%, which is also higher than the 91.1% recorded last year.
Witbank and Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo dams in the Nkangala District are the only listed dams that recorded some improvements in water levels, increasing from 100.9% to 101.1% and 48.2% to 48.6% respectively.
Dams that remained unchanged in water levels include Longmere, Klipkopjes and Primkop in the Ehlanzeni District, recording 100.7%, 100% and 101.1% respectively. In the Nkangala District, Loskop Dam remained unchanged at 100.7%.
The majority of listed dams in the Ehlanzeni District recorded declines in water volumes. Blyderivierspoort Dam dropped from 100.4% to 100.3%, Buffelskloof from 100.3% to 100.2%, Driekoppies from 100.4% to 100.3%, Witklip from 100.3% to 100.2%, Kwena from 100.4% to 100.3%, Da Gama from 100.3% to 99.3%, Inyaka from 87.1% to 86.8% and Ohrigstad from 52.7% to 52.6%.
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All the listed dams in the Gert Sibande District recorded declines in water volumes. Grootdraai Dam dropped from 100.9% to 100%, Nooitgedacht from 100.6% to 100.4%, Vygeboom from 100.7% to 100.6%, Jericho from 100.2% to 99.4%, Westoe from 97.7% to 96.7%, Morgenstond from 100.5% to 100.4% and Heyshope from 100.4% to 100.2%.
Middelburg Dam is the only listed dam that recorded a decline in the Nkangala District, dropping from 98.4% to 98%.
Even though the water levels are much higher than last year, the DWS called on the public to continue using water sparingly.