The dam level is currently dropping at around 1% every 10 days, and a crisis is looming, according to Midvaal MMC for Engineering Services, Councillor Dennis Ryder.

The dam supplies 12 million South Africans with water, and if the levels drop below 25%, there will be a serious impact on infrastructure and the ability to supply water.

There has been talk of releasing water from Sterkfontein Dam, situated in the higher regions of the Vaal River, which is currently 90% full, as an emergency supply into the Vaal Dam, but this has not yet been released due to high risk of evaporation from the Vaal Dam.

Although some rain has fallen during October, the main rains are likely to only occur in December, and it is vital that people do not start to ease up on their saving precautions following the rains of the past week.

While the rain was welcome, it was too little to make any real impact on the drought situation in the Vaal area.

MMC Dennis Ryder has applauded and sincerely thanked the people of Midvaal for responding to requests to save water and complying with water restrictions which have been imposed.

The municipality has managed to save close to the 15% target, but has not yet met it, and he urges all residents and businesses in Midvaal to find more ways to save water so that the target can be met.