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The Vaal Dam is continuing to decline week-on-week, making it one of the dams that negatively affect the overall performance of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS).

The Vaal Dam has decreased from 92.8% last week to 92.0% this week. Last year during the same period the dam was sitting at a comfortable 87.9%.

The IVRS slightly moved down from 82.0% last week to 81.2% this week. The system’s current level is higher when compared with last year’s level at the same period when it was sitting at 76.9%

The IVRS consists of 14 dams that are collectively responsible for supplying both households and industry in the bourgeoning Gauteng. The system is also important for the rest of the continent. The backbone of Gauteng’s foremost industries, Eskom and Sasol, are supplied by the system.

The Grootdraai Dam has slightly shrunk this week after having hovered at 84.7% last week. Currently the dam is floating at 83.9%. During the same period last year the dam was sitting at 79.7%.

Likewise, the Katse Dam has gone slightly down this week. Last week the dam was at 53.7% and this week is standing at 53.3%. Compared with last year’s level when it was below the 50% mark at 25.8%, this week’s level is much higher.

The Sterkfontein Dam, which remained unchanged for the last two weeks, has recorded a decrease this week. Presently, the dam is standing at 94.9%. Last week it was at 95.0% while last year at the same period it was at 92.5%.

Showing a decline this week, the Bloemhof Dam has fallen from 99.0% last week to 96.5%. Last year during the same time the dam was at 95.1%.

Week-on-week the Mohale Dam is shrinking to new time lows, with this week’s level having declined to 22.9%. Last week the dam was at 23.6% and last year at the same period it was much healthier at well above the neutral 50% mark at 63.1%.

As some parts of the country, including the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape are still reeling from the grip of the worst drought in years, the Gauteng Department of Water and Sanitation is urging both industry and households not to shift focus from their water conservation efforts. Up until now, the public and households have played an important role in significantly reducing consumption that has seen Gauteng get through the winter season.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation