The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

As anticipated because we are in the middle of winter season, the national water levels persist to contract. Weekly status of dam levels issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) demonstrate that the amount of water stored in the country’s reservoirs has marginally declined, this is in comparison with last week’s quantity. The overall storage capacity sits at 93.6% this week, a minimal drop from last week’s 93.9%.  

The only Water Supply System that managed to somehow record an upward movement is Crocodile West increasing slightly from 98.7% to 99.3%. Both Amathole and Umhlathuze Water Supply Systems are unchanged at 76.0% and 100.2% respectively. 

The rest of other Water Supply System have contracted as follows; Algoa dropped from 12.4% last week to 12.3% this week, Butterworth declined from 100.1% to 100.0%, Bloemfontein decreased from 100.2% to 99.5%, Crocodile East decreased from 100.6% to 100.4%, Cape Town witnessed a minor decline from 64.7% to 64.4%. 

Continuing with the downward slope is Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) which lessened with the tiniest margin from 102.5% to 102.4%, Klipplaat dropped from 100.3% to 100.2%, Luvuvhu contracted from 101.3% last week to 101.1%, Orange records a minimal decline from 99.8% to 99.6%, Polokwane went down from 102.5% to 102.0% and Umgeni also moved down from 101.9% to 101.1%. 

All provinces with the exception of North West and Northern Cape have recorded downward movements in water levels namely; Free State moved down slightly from 102.0% to 101.8%, Eastern Cape recorded a slim decrease 72.0% to 71.1% , Gauteng shrunk from 100.9% to 100.6%, KwaZulu Natal diminished from 92.0% to 91.4%, Limpopo contracted from 88.8% to 88.6% and Mpumalanga marginally dropped from 95.5% to 95.4%. 

North West’s water levels escalated from 81.1% to 81.4%, Northern Cape climbed up from 100.4% last week to 107.4% this week and Western Cape dropped marginally from 51.9% last week to 51.7% this week. 

Thee Waterskloof Dam which is part of Cape Town Water Supply System decreased from 67.0% last week to 66.8%, Elandskloof Dam stands at  30.4% and Kammanassie is alarmingly low at 3.8%.  

In Mpumalanga both Jericho and Nooitgedacht Dams which are part of the IVRS supplied by Mpama and Komati River have declined from 100.8% to 100.3% and 100.6% respectively, Kwena Dam which is part of Crocodile East Water Supply System is moderately down from 100.6% last week to 100.4% this week.  

North West’s Hartbeespoort Dam in Crocodile West Water Supply System declined from 98.1% to 97.6% and Bospoort somewhat dropped from 102.4% to 101.9%. Roodeplat Dam which is the component of Crocodile West supplied by Pienaars River is unmoved at 100.8% and Vaalkop Dam is also unchanged at 94.8%.  

Vaal Dam which is part of the IVRS is stable and unchanged at 109.0%, Gariep Dam which is part of Orange River Water Supply System has recorded a decrease from 100.2% to 99.3%, Vanderkloof Dam expanded slightly from 99.1% to 99.9% and Karee Dam in the Northern Cape is critically low at 9.9%  

In the recent flood hit KwaZulu Natal, Albert Falls Dam, an integral part of the Umgeni Water Supply System which supplies water to eThekwini Metro and surrounding areas declined from 102.1% to 100.7%, Midmar Dam which is also part of Umgeni also decrease moderately from 100.6% last week to 100.5% this week, Woodstock which is supplied by Tugela River and falls under IVRS is unmoved at 101.7%.  

Groendal Dam which is part of Algoa Water Supply System in the Eastern Cape is critically low at 22.0% moving further low from last week’s 22.3%, Kouga Dam which is situated in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan currently experiencing water supply challenges sits at a critically low 13.1%, Nahoom Dam which forms part of Amathole Water Supply System has decreased from 99.9% to 99.1% this week. 

De Hoop Dam which is the biggest dam in Limpopo moved down marginally from 100.5% to 100.4%. Flag Boshielo Dam which is part of Polokwane Water Supply System has decreased from 103.3% to 102.6%, Nandoni Dam in the far north of Limpopo recorded a minor decrease from 101.6% to 101.3% and Middel-Letaba is almost empty at 2.5% capacity. 

The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to urge water users across the country to excessive maximum caution when utilising the available water.

Issued by the Department of Water & Sanitation