Slight increase in dam levels

THERE has been a slight increase in South Africa’s dam levels after light rains were experienced across the country this week. According to the report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation on Tuesday, dam levels increased from 59.5 per cent to 60 per cent. In the same period last year, South Africa’s dam levels averaged 57.7 per cent.

“The weekly report indicates that the average dam levels are up from 58.8 per cent last week to 59.6 per cent. In the Western Cape, the average level keeps dropping alarmingly by one per cent week-on-week. Recently it dropped from 24.5 per cent to 23.7 per cent,” the department said.

The Umgeni Dam system in KwaZulu-Natal, which has five dams serving eThekwini and uMsunduzi, increased from 61.5 per cent to 62.5 per cent. The system was at 49.3 per cent in the same period last year.

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Midmar Dam up to 95 percent

While Midmar Dam levels increased from 92.7 per cent to 95.5 per cent; the dam level in Hazelmere has decreased from 60.7 per cent to 60.3 per cent, with Inanda Dam also experiencing a decrease from 63.0 per cent to 62.5 per cent.

Day Zero pushed back to June 

Meanwhile, the department said that Capetonians can breathe a sigh of relief as latest reports state that the daunting Day Zero in the mother city has been pushed back to June.

“Officials attributed the delay to the fact that water usage by the agricultural sector has declined and the fact that residents have significantly lowered their water consumption,” the department said.

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