WITH the summer rains staying away, the water situation is reaching desperate levels as wildlife and livestock die in the rural areas.
Although the good rains have turned the grazing green, the run-off has not been sufficient to fill up the dams, the levels of which are also being influenced by the very hot weather.
Temperatures reaching the mid- to high thirties have meant that any gains in water levels are quickly neutralised by evaporation.
This is affecting not only terrestrial animals, but also fish life.
At the Mkhulu Dam in the Thula Thula Private Game Reserve, staff stepped in to rescue barbel which were swimming on top of each other as they competed for space.
On Saturday, a resident of Intaba Ingwe Steve Almond, Thula Thula section ranger Vusi Gumede and Zakueleni Biyela waded into the mud and moved 139 fish to surrounding dams.
Storage dam levels
The level of the Goedertrouw Dam outside eShowe has fallen below 50% with only 49.7% of its capacity on Monday, 16 February.
Zululand’s largest dam, the Pongolapoort is at a steady 62.8% compared to 77.6% last year at this time.
The Klipfontein Dam which provides water to Vryheid and Ulundi areas is standing at 78.1%, a massive drop from 82.5% last week.
Temperatures in Richards Bay over the next few days are forecast at 31, 25 and 33 degrees for Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively.
eShowe and Ulundi are expected to reach 34 degrees on Saturday, with showers expected on Sunday.
