UPDATE: Drought still bites despite rains
Some good rainfall figures have been recorded in some areas.
DESPITE recent showers, the Zululand dam levels recorded by the Department of Water and Sanitation shows that the dams are still critically low.
The second largest dam in the region, the Goedertrouw with a capacity of 301.3 million cubic metres when full, dropped 0.8% over the last week and now stands at 31.1%.
In the north, the Pongolapoort Dam is at a constant 51% of its 2 267 million cubic metres capacity.
The Hluhluwe Dam, which has a limited catchment area is now at 26.8%, a whole one per cent down from the previous week, while the Klipfontein Dam dropped by 1.3% and is presently at 21.2%.
Last year at this time, the Goedertrouw, Pongolapoort, Hluhluwe and Klipfontein were at 56.2%, 61.6%, 65.6% and 69.5% full.
Welcome rains
Some good rainfall figures have been recorded in some areas.
The highest rainfall in northern Zululand was recorded in Pongola where 31.4mm was measured.
Mkuze Estate was not far behind with 30.5mm and the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) station in the Makhathini Flats measured 18.8mm.
The Mtubatuba area received 13.7mm, St Lucia 9.2mm and Huluhluwe 8.7mm.
Empangeni had a very welcome 40.6mm measured at the SA Sugar Research Institute (SARI), while Heatonville had 38mm.
Further south, in eShowe 15.2mm fell, while Gingindlovu (SASRI) measured 13mm and Entumeni 14mm.
Far below par
The November rainfall was around half the Long Term Mean (LTM) according to figures recorded by SASRI.
The South Coast region has been worst hit by the drought and only 57.8mm was measured compared to a LTM of 126.4mm.
The North Coast region had 73.5mm, compared to 123.4mm and Zululand 57.6mm with an LTM of 113.8mm.
Northern Zululand remains very dry with the Pongola sub-region only measuring 18.5mm (LTM 96.9mm) during November.
The Umfolozi sub-region was slightly better off with 48.7mm compared to the LTM of 104.1mm, while Amatikhulu had 80.5mm (LTM 129.3mm).
Residents are asked to continue with water saving measures. While rain has fallen and brought some relief, the region is still very dry.
Heavy rain in the interior around Tugela Ferry and Dundee, will not benefit the Goedertrouw Dam as the Tugela River is not within the dam’s catchment area.
