A weekly dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week has noted yet another increase in the province’s dam levels, while the water supply system breaches the 80% mark.
According to the Department’s Spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, dam levels recorded last week stood at 71.8% compared to 72.1% in the current week, showing a week-on-week increase.
“When compared to a similar period last year, you will note that water levels were slightly lower at 60.8%,” commented Ratau.
These are the dams that have shown an increase:
Nagle Dam is up at 87.4% from last week’s 86.9%
Inanda Dam is at 101.2% from 101.1%
Spring Grove Dam is at 84.6% from last week’s 82.8%
These dams have shown a decline in water levels:
Midmar (100.5%) and Hazelmere (53.6%) Dams have declined this week. Last week, the dams recorded 100.8% and 54.4% respectively.
Also on a downward spiral are the Ntshingwayo (87.2%), Driel Barrage (95.0%) and Mearns (97.4%) Dams. They respectively recorded 87.5%, 101.6% and 101.1% last week.
“The decrease is attributed to the rise in temperature experienced in some parts of the province. What we are experiencing are extremely unpredictable weather patterns. After the heavy rains due to Tropical Cyclone Eloise, we are now confronted with soaring temperatures; thus you will see this kind of trend on water levels,” explained Ratau.
He called on residents to use every opportunity to use water prudently as the winter season approaches.
“We would like to urge water users to handle water that is presently available to them, with care. The winter season is almost here and given the unpredictable weather patterns, we must brace ourselves for anything. We anticipate that it can be a very dry season…”
Here’s a look at this week’s dam level status in some KwaZulu-Natal dams:
| DAM | STATUS LAST WEEK | STATUS THIS WEEK |
| Klipfontein | 100.7% | 100.3 % |
| Woodstock | 97.2 % | 95.7 % |
| Spioenkop | 100.6 % | 100.3% |
| Hluhluwe | 101.0 % | 100.1% |
| Zaaihoek | 82.2% | 82.5% |
| Wagendrift | 102.1 % | 101.8 % |
| Bivane | 101.5 % | 101.0 % |
| Pongolapoort | 54.8 % | 55.4 % |
| Goedertrouw | 73.5 % | 74.2 % |
| Albert-Falls | 50.1% | 52.0% |
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