Covid-19 peak may put a strain on water availability – water and sanitation dept

The department of water and sanitation has said the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic may put a strain on the availability of water in the country.

In a statement, the department said with a warning of Covid-19 reaching its peak in the next two weeks or so, the demand for South Africans to wash hands frequently is also expected to rise, which might put a strain on water resources.

It said its latest weekly report indicates that the national average dam level stands at 68.6%, a marginal drop from last week’s 69%.

“There are 21 971,1 cubic metres of water that have been stored in reservoirs for domestic, agricultural and industrial use,” says the report.

“To cope with the demand, the department has distributed over 20 000 Jojo tanks to needy communities across the country. To this end, the department continues to work with various municipalities to obviate the burden of an increased water demand,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, dams in the Western Cape continue to swell as they rose from last week’s 59,8% to 60,7%, the department said.

“As the winter rains drench the province, it is expected that the dam levels will increase substantially in the next few months. The levels have risen by 6% compared to the same period last year when it was 54,7%,” the department said.

It said dams in the Free State has dropped from 81,2% to 80,7%.

“However, in terms of quantity, the province boasts the biggest volumes of water in the country because of some of the biggest dams that are found in the province. With its fewer and smaller dams, Gauteng has almost reached its capacity at 99,3% while the Vaal Dam remains stable at 42.6%,” the statement reads.

The department said Northern Cape recorded a whopping 93,9%, with dam levels having soared by 2% in the past week.

“However, the province has the fewest and smallest dams in the country that get filled up at the slightest rain.”

Although Limpopo’s dam levels dropped slightly from 64,6% to 64,1% this week, the province’s water situation remains fairly stable with dams in Vhembe Epharaim Mogale districts recording above 70% level, the department said.

“However, the water situation remains dire at Mopani District as Tzaneen and Middel-Letaba dam levels are stagnant below 20%.”

The dam levels in Mpumalanga have slightly dropped from 71.6% last week to 71.2% this week, the department said.

It said KwaZulu Natal is in the middle of the table, with its dam levels having dropped marginally from 59,8% last week to 59,4% this week.

“Midmar Dam in Natal-Midlands has almost reached its capacity while Albert Falls outside Mooi River continues on a downslide and has reached 39,2% this week. At 98,2% Driel Barrage that is fed by Uthukela River is the fullest reservoir in the province.”

North West is also having sufficient water in its reservoirs after storing 602,7 cubic metres (80%) of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use, the department said.

“At the beginning of the year, North West was among the three provinces that recorded below 50% dam levels, sparking fears that the province might be plunged into dry conditions during the winter season

“Eastern Cape dams have remained stable at 51,6%, having moved fractionally from 51,5% last week. The province has 933,1 cubic metres of volumes of water in its reservoirs, which is half the full capacity of 1809,6 cubic metres.

“Against this background, DWS would like to urge all water users to save water by using it wisely and sparingly until the next summer rains.”

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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