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Africa|Sanitation|Storage|Systems|Water
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Spring season calls on all of us to renew our efforts to use water sparingly

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Spring season calls on all of us to renew our efforts to use water sparingly

Spring season calls on all of us to renew our efforts to use water sparingly
Photo by Bloomberg

2nd September 2020

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As we begin the spring season, our efforts to save water need to be renewed and doubled. This is mainly because temperatures will begin to rise, putting a strain on the already declining dam levels as experienced in the KwaZulu-Natal province.  Water will not only evaporate, but the demand for water will increase, most probably, the demand may exceed water supply.

Hydrologists in the Department of Water and Sanitation monitor the state of the country’s dam levels on a weekly basis. In a report they issued this week, it revealed a concerning and continuous trend of decreasing water levels. 

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According to the report, the provincial storage capacity in KwaZulu-Natal has declined from 56,7% last week to 56,3% this week. Although this is a marginal decline, this time last year, the levels were slight high at 58,4%. 

One of province’s largest dams, the Albert Falls dam in the Durban-Pietermaritzburg region is at a low of 35,1% this week from last week’s 36,2%. 

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Also seeing a decline is the Hazelmere Dam on the Mdloti River at 45,6% from 46,8% in the previous week. 

The Pongolapoort Dam is also shrinking from 41,5% to 41,3%. When compared to a similar period in 2019, it stood at 43,7%. The Inanda and Nagle Dams are at 81,8% and 77,7% respectively. When compared to the previous week, they stood at 81,0%% and 80,7%.

The decreasing dam levels together with the spread of COVID-19 have put a strain on our water management systems. Now more than ever, each one of us has to use every single drop of water responsibly. 

We are an arid country, ranking in the world’s top 30 of driest countries. Adding to this is the dire effects that climate change continues to pose on the country’s weather patterns. 

We need to appoint and commit ourselves as water ambassadors in spaces we occupy. 

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu last week participated in a ministerial discussion on water issues during the World Water Week virtual session where she called on citizens to value water.

“The South African government is doing its utmost best to ensure that all its population has water. This is an opportune time for all of us to start valuing water, not only in a crisis, but even beyond,” she said.  

She further committed: “As the Minister responsible for Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation in South Africa, I raise my hind high and Say “I am a water Person, I will not rest, while in this portfolio, until I see every South African rich or poor, urban or rural, having access to clean water”.

Let us also take it upon ourselves and do our bit to save the little water we still have available. 

Here’s a look at this week’s dam status in KwaZulu-Natal: 

DAM

STATUS LAST WEEK

STATUS THIS WEEK

Midmar

94,5%

94,2%

Goedertrouw

52,7%

52,4%

Spioenkop

86,7%

85,8%

Craigie Burn

71,1%

76,5%

Mearns

44,3%

43,2%

Spring Grove

53,4%

51,4%

Ntshingwayo

68,6%

68,0%

Zaaihoek

60,9%

59,8%

Klipfontein

62,8%

61,0%

 

Issued by The Department of Water and Sanitation

 

 

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