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Cold weather sweeping over KwaZulu-Natal this week is apparently consistent with the downward trajectory of dam levels in the province.
The Department of Water and Sanitation has stated, the winter season has noticed reservoir storage drop weekly, with only a few dams showing improvement. Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau, says, “KZN dam levels showed a significant drop this week compared to last week, according to this week’s Department of Water and Sanitation’s reservoirs report.”
The Umgeni Water Supply System has declined from 78.3% last week to 77.5%. This is a significant jump from last year’s 71.2% during the same period.
The Driel Barrage Dam, which gets its water from the Tugela River, has increased this week, jumping to 94,1% from last week’s 87.2%. At the same time, Mearns Dam has soared from 85.3% last week to 91.2% this week.
Meanwhile, Pongolapoort and Zaaihoek Dams remain steady at 57.4% and 78.4%, respectively.
Furthermore, the remainder of the province’s dam levels have decreased, with Nagle Dam dropping to 82,8% this week from 87.4% last week. Woodstock and Craigie Burn Dams follow the downward trend, with each standing at 86.6% and 99.8%, respectively.
Goedertrouw Dam is at 72.9% from 73.4%. Klipfontein Dam is 92.3% from 93.4%. Also seeing a decline is the Hluhluwe Dam at 91.5%, Bivane Dam, at 93.3%, Spring Grove Dam at 90.7%, while Newcastle’s Ntshingwayo is currently at 75.8%.
Ratua adds, “The Department has urged residents to continue using water sparingly while it works around the clock to implement bulk water projects through its entities and several municipalities across the province.”
What are your thoughts on the current status of the dam levels? Share your views in the comment section below.
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