Dams across the country continue to drop
2 November 2016
The Department of Water and Sanitation urges communities and businesses to adhere to water saving measures as dam levels across the country continue to drop due to the current unprecedented drought scourge that is ravaging most parts of the country.
The National Storage of 211 dams now at 49, 0% and still dropping, but slower than last year. The Vaal Dam level is at an average of 26, 6%. Water levels in Western Cape dams are dropping. Dams dropped by 3%.
The Vaal System which supply water to 14 dams as well as Sasol and Eskom dropped from 49, 9% from 17 October 2016 to 49, 7% this week. The system was 68, 8% in 2015.
The Orange River System was 55, 6% last week but is now at 54, 4%. Gariep Dam dropped from 55, 7% to 51, 8% while Vanderkloof Dam experienced a rise from 55, 4% to 58, 7%. The system was 71, 6% this time last year.
Some dams in Western Cape continue to drop as well. Voelvlei, dropped from 71, 8% to 71, 3%, Berg River gained a little from 72, 7% to 73, 1% and Theewaterskloof went down from 52, 0% to 51, 6%.
The Algoa System with five dams serving the Nelson Mandela Bay has recorded a drop from 70, 1% to 69, 3% compared to 100, 2% last year. Amatola System with six dams serving the Buffalo City dropped from 78% to 77. 2% compared to 99, 5% last year.
The Umgeni System with five dams serving the Ethekwini and Msunduzi dropped from 44, 2 to 44, 1% compared to 66, 2% last year. Nagle dam was at 69, 9% last week and now stands at 69, 7% while Midmar dam gained a little from 47, 3% to 47, 7%. Hazelmere gained from 64, 9% to 66, 0% and the Pongolapoort is still the same at 37, 2%.
The Goedertrouw, Hluhluwe is still the same at 20, 8% while the Klipfontein dropped slightly from 11, 8% to 11, 4%, the system is still very low.
In the Bloemfontein with the four dams serving Mangaung, the system was at 31, 1% last year. The system gained slightly from 31, 2% to 34% and 8%.
Issued by Sputnik Ratau, Department of Water & Sanitation Media Liaison, 2 November 2016
