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The inadequate rainfall coupled with the soaring temperatures in Gauteng is shrinking the levels of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) with its main dams taking a knock this week.

The system consists of 14 dams and is especial important for supplying water to the Gauteng’s powerhouse industries, including Sasol and Eskom.

The IVRS is in an improved position this week at 71.9% compared to last year during this time when it slightly above the 20% mark, hovering at 64.3%. Although reasonably stable, the IVRS has recorded a slight decrease as it was at 72.7% last week.

The Vaal Dam is currently sitting 79.3%, marginally down from 80.3% last week. Recording a decline by 1% this week, the dam was at 63.1% in the past year at the same time.

The Katse Dam is also on the downturn this week to 39.2% from 39.3% last week, recording a reduction by a trivial 0, 1%. Last year the dam was at 43.3%.

Falling from last week’s 76.0% to this week’s 73.2%, the Bloemhof Dam saw a drop by 2.8%. Last year during the same time, the dam stood at the doldrums at 35.0%.

Hovering slightly than last week, the Sterkfonten Dam has recorded a slight decrease by 0.1% this week from 94.2% last to 94.1% this week. Compared to the same period last year, the dam was sitting at 87.0%

By contrast to the other dams, the Groodraai Dam is this week well above the 100% mark with its level at 100.2%. However, this week’s level is slightly down from last week’s 101.4%. Still, this is higher compared to the 100.0% at which the dam stood last year.

While the IVRS is improved compared to the same period last year, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is urging the public to play an active role in preventing the excessive use of water given the heatwave that increases evaporation in the dams.

The Department calls on residents and businesses to use tips provided by local municipalities to avoid punitive measures being imposed so as to curtail the wanton use of the depleting resource.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation