National dam levels slightly dropped in comparison with last week<\/p>\n
The Department of Water and Sanitation\u2019s weekly state of water reservoirs report demonstrates a minor depletion in storage. This week, the overall national storage capacity of the country\u2019s reservoirs is at 89.5%, a tiny decline from last week\u2019s 89.7%, and still a significant improvement from last year\u2019s 78.6%.\u2078<\/p>\n
The country\u2019s largest Water Supply System, the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), which is comprised of 14 dams across four provinces dipped marginally from 94.5% last week to 93.8% this week. Some of the Water Supply Systems that have declined are Bloemfontein from 95.6.% last week to 95.4% this week, both Crocodile East and West experienced marginal reductions from 93.4% to 91.7% and 91.4% to 89.8% respectively.<\/p>\n
Cape Town Water Supply System has recorded a decline in water levels from 85.4% to 85.9%, this comes after months of experiencing increments due to the rainy season in the area. Continuing with the downward movement in as far as Water Supply Systems are concerned were: Luvuvhu from 100.3% to 99.9%, Umhlathuze dropped slightly from 97.8% to 97.3%, Polokwane from 97.3% to 96.5%, and Umgeni decreased from 95.2% to 94.7%.<\/p>\n
Algoa Water Supply System with dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro is among systems that has recorded an increase albeit minimal moving up from 19.1% to 19.6%, Butterworth increased from 100.0% to 100.1%, Orange from 95.0% to 95.6%, Klipplaat from 100.4%\u00a0 to 100.8% and Amathole soared from 84.2% to 92.1%.<\/p>\n
Five out of nine provinces have experienced reductions in water levels namely, KwaZulu-Natal from 85.6% to 85.0%, Limpopo from 85.0% to 84.4%, Mpumalanga from 91.8% to 91.3%, North West from 74.9% to 73.9% and Western Cape from 74.4% to 73.9%.<\/p>\n
On the improvement segment is Eastern Cape which increased marginally from 71.5% to 73.0%, Gauteng from 96.5% to 96.7%, and Northern Cape from 92.2% to 97.7%, whereas Free State remains in the same level as that of last week at 95.8%,<\/p>\n
The Gariep, which is South Africa’s largest dam increased from 93.0% last week and is sitting at 94.2% this week. While Sterkfontein Dam, a reserve dam within IVRS, is at 99.7%, showing an increase from last week\u2019s water level of 99.3%. Vaal Dam has declined from 95.2% to 94.1%.<\/p>\n
The Department of Water and Sanitation continues\u00a0 to urge water users to be circumspect in the manner in which they utilise the available water, this is due to the fact that we are experiencing high temperatures in various parts of the country which may result in water evaporation and an increase of water demand.<\/p>\n
For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942<\/p>\n
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Source: Government of South Africa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"