LIMPOPO – The Department of Water and Sanitation’s latest weekly report showed that the provincial water levels have declined this week, bringing them to 55.8% from last week’s 56.1%.
This is a continual decrease from last year when levels were at a low of 59.5% during this period, says Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau. The report revealed that a majority of the province’s water levels had decreased.
In the Vhembe District, Nandoni Dam decreased slightly from 93.4 to 93.2% this week. Vondo Dam experienced a slight increase of 86.3% this week, compared to last week’s level of 85.5%.
De Hoop Dam in Steelpoort is at 87.8%, showing a slight decrease compared to last week at 88.3%. Flag Boshielo also declined to 80.7% this week, compared to last week’s 81.9%. Ratau said Flag Boshielo is continually on a downward spiral as it recorded 116.7% last year, at this time. Glen Alpine Dam in Mokgalakwena is also critically low at 5.7% this week compared to last week’s 6.5%.
Doorndraai Dam remained unchanged with 8.4% this week. Mokolo Dam experienced a decline with 39.9% this week, compared to last week’s 40.0%. Due to the recent rain, Ebenezer Dam in Groot Letaba, which supplies majority of the communities around Polokwane, has experienced an increase from 15.6% last week to 16.5% this week. “Tzaneen Dam which supplies water for farmers for irrigation in the area has also experienced a slight increase from 9.5% to 10.2%, however, we call on the farming community to be cautious when using water as the dam is not improving and the farmer’s produce will be affected if the dam runs dry.”
The department urges residents to use water with care as some dams in the province continue to drop alarmingly.
