SA urged to use water sparingly despite increasing dam levels

Despite the average national dam levels having almost reached the 60% mark, South Africans are again advised to use water sparingly.

The department of water affairs on Wednesday took members of the media on a tour to Vaal Dam in Deneysville, which towards the end of last year dipped to alarming low levels of 25%. Speaking to The Citizen, deputy director-general in the department Trevor Balzer said the only time when the issue of water restrictions applied would be reconsidered would be when the dam levels have risen above 70%.

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“At the moment, we are not out of the woods yet despite the recent heavy downpours … in fact we would need more rain similar to what we received last weekend,” he said.

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The low dam levels prompted authorities to commence with a replenishing exercise at the Sterkfontein dam, which meant releasing water into the Vaal dam.

Sterkfontein Dam is used as a reserve, while Vaal Dam supplies water mainly to Gauteng.

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