Lim dams not out of the woods yet
Currently, the country's dam levels are at 77,2% which is better compared to last year's 54%.
LIMPOPO – South Africa, which is a water-scarce country, loses R7 billion in water losses annually.
This was according to Water and Sanitation Minister, Nomvula Mokonyane, who quoted from a study as she addressed the Western Cape Water Indaba in Rawsonville last week.
In Limpopo, the Middle Letaba Dam and Nsami Dam in Mopani are not yet out of the woods as dam levels are still relatively low.
The department said the province still needed a lot more rain.
According to Mokonyane, the study was done by the University of Stellenbosch and was commissioned by the Water Research Commission in 2012.
“It is therefore of vital importance for government and communities to improve our ability to maintain the existing infrastructure to prevent and repair the current leaks in order to reduce the loss,” said Mokonyane.
Currently, the country’s dam levels are at 77,2% which is better compared to last year’s 54%.
Last year, cabinet declared all the eight provinces disaster areas, except for Gauteng.
Some of the dams are now out of the woods after they showed signs of recuperation while Limpopo, North West and Mpumalanga still face serious challenges.
The indaba was expected to provide multi-stakeholders’ input on the drought and provide added sectoral and professional know-how in the situation necessary to create a sustainable water future for the country.
The minister said the Western Cape, which was recently hard-hit by drought, was one of the provinces experiencing serious water losses.
“Currently, as a country, we lose billions of rands annually in water losses. But you must know that it starts with me and you to ensure that the losses stop and all leaks are attended to,” she said.
