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The weekly dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation shows a minimal decline of dam levels in KwaZulu-Natal as we go into the colder months.
According to the Department, the dam levels have dropped from 88.1% last week to 87.7% this week.
Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Sputnik Ratau, explains, “The decline in the overall storage capacity of the province should not alarm residents. We say this because the Umgeni Water Supply System, which is the main system in the province, has been standing at the above average percentage of 101.5% for two weeks.”
Ratau said that when compared to a similar period last year, the system stood at 82.8%. He further added that the average percentage recorded for the overall dams in the province this time last year was slightly lower at 67.2%.
So what are the dam levels this week in KwaZulu-Natal?
- Midmar Dam, within the Umgeni System, declined from 100.6% to 98.9%.
- The Hluhluwe Dam is slightly lower but still below average at 70.0% from 71.4%.
- Also seeing a decline is the Driel Barrage Dam from 99.3% to 86.6%.
- The Woodstock Dam on the Tugela River is down from 94.5% to 88.5%.
- The Zaaihoek Dam remains at 90.6%.
- Nagle Dam has seen a minor increase, from 101.3% to 101.9%.
- Bivane Dam is currently standing at 101.3%, increasing from last week’s 101.2%.
- Spioenkop Dam’s levels have improved from 103% to 103.2%.
- Spring Grove has also seen a minor improvement, increasing from 101.7% to 101.8%.
- Pongolapoort now stands at 80.8%, increasing from last week’s 80.4%.
- Klipfontein Dam is currently at 101.3%, improving from last week’s 100.8%.
- Wagendrift Dam has seen a minor decline in its levels, dropping from 103.2% to 102.3%.
- Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam has seen a notable decline, dropping from 80.6% to 77.2%.
“Most of the province’s dams are below average, although on a somewhat downward spiral. Almost below average is the Hazelmere Dam, at 53.3%. Comparative to last year during a similar period, the Dam stood at 53.8%,” said Ratau.
He noted that the Department is currently fast-tracking the Hazelmere Dam wall raising to supplement water supply to the rapidly increasing urban and industrial water usage in the North Coast.
“The completion of this project will also increase water availability to areas such as Verulam, Groutville, Blythedale and Ballito in KwaDukuza District,” Ratau added.
“On Thursday, 17 March 2022, we will get a progress report on the how the raising of the dam wall is going and when the project will be completed. It is for this reason that we have invited members of the media to also be a part of this in order to get a first-hand account of the progress being made and to also ensure accountability from the side of the Department,” he said.
The Department has reiterated its commitment to conclude bulk water projects in the province while working closely with its entities and other government spheres to ensure water security in the province and across the country.
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