Call to use water sparingly as dam levels decline
The KZN Department of Water and Sanitation has called on communities to increase water-saving efforts, as rising temperatures put a strain on already-declining dam levels
THE KZN Department of Water and Sanitation has called on communities to increase water-saving efforts, as rising temperatures put a strain on already-declining dam levels.
‘In spring, the water will steadily evaporate, but the demand for water will also increase, possibly exceeding the water supply,’ explained department spokesperson, Lebogang Maseko.
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The provincial storage capacity has been steadily dropping, with a marginal decrease from 56,7% to 56,3% last week.
Large areas of uMkhanyakude and Zululand remain dry, with some dams hovering around the 20% level. Goedertrouw Dam near eShowe – Mhlathuze Water’s main water source for the greater Richards Bay area – dropped from 52.7 to 52.4%, while Pongolapoort Dam levels shifted from 41.5% to 41.3% last week.
‘The decreasing dam levels, together with the spread of Covid-19, have put a strain on our water management systems,’ continued Maseko.
‘Now, more than ever, each one of us must use every single drop of water responsibly.’
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