DWS records further drop in Mpumalanga’s water levels

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) calls on the public to be more conservative and use the available water wisely and sparingly, as water levels continue to drop in the listed dams, water management areas (WMAs) and districts of Mpumalanga.

The department’s spokesperson, Themba Khoza, said the state of reservoirs report of August 5 shows that the average dam levels in the province recorded a further drop from 91.7% to 91.2%.

As for the WMAs, the Olifants WMA dropped from 82.3% to 81.7% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA dropped from 92.7% to 92.1%. Water levels also dropped in the three districts, as Ehlanzeni dropped from 95% to 94%, Gert Sibande from 88.4% to 87.9%, and Nkangala from 94.3% to 93.9%.

The report also shows that the water levels in the province are lower than the same period last year when the average dam levels stood at 97.1%, the Olifants WMA at 89.5%, the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA at 97.3%, Ehlanzeni at 99.8%, Gert Sibande at 94.1%, and Nkangala at 99.7%.

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Khoza said in Ehlanzeni District and the Lowveld, only Primkop Dam recorded some improvement, slightly increasing from 72% to 72.2%, and Da Gama Dam remained unchanged at 94.6%.

He said the rest of the listed dams in Ehlanzeni District and the Lowveld recorded declines in water levels. Blyderivierspoort Dam dropped from 93% to 91.4%, Buffelskloof from 83.8% to 82.2%, Driekoppies from 96.7% to 96.2%, Longmere from 83.2% to 79.4%, Klipkopjes from 95.5% to 95.3%, Witklip from 97.9% to 97%, Kwena from 95.2% to 93.8%, Inyaka from 98% to 96.8%, and Ohrigstad from 49.5% to 48%.

Khoza said in the Gert Sibande District, Jericho Dam is the only listed dam that recorded some improvement, increasing from 70.9% to 71.3%, and Morgenstond Dam remained unchanged at 84%.

The listed dams that recorded declines in the Gert Sibande District include Grootdraai Dam dropping from 84.4% to 83.6%, Nooitgedacht from 85.4% to 84.7%, Vygeboom from 100.2% to 100.1%, Westoe from 49.3% to 47.4%, and Heyshope from 98.5% to 98.3%.

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He added that Witbank Dam at 94.9% is the only listed dam that remained unchanged in the Nkangala District, with the rest recording declines. Middelburg Dam dropped from 91% to 90.5%, Loskop Dam dropped from 97.3% to 96.9%, and Rhenosterkop/eMkhombo Dam dropped from 89.5% to 89%.

Khoza said in light of the continuing decline in water levels and the fact that this year’s levels are lower than last year, the DWS reminds the public that South Africa is a dry and water-scarce country where every drop counts, as water has no substitute, and this makes water conservation everybody’s business to ensure reliable and sustainable water supply for the current and future generations.

Khoza said the DWS further encourages the public to protect water resources from pollution to ensure sustainable freshwater supply and water security.