Looking at the KwaZulu-Natal dam levels, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has recently issued its latest report.
While some dams maintain robust water levels, others are signalling a need for replenishment.
We now take a closer look at the specific conditions, as per the latest report:
- Albert Falls Dam: The dam’s water level currently stands at 92%, indicating a marginal decrease from last week’s 92.1%.
- Bivane Dam: Bivane Dam’s reading remains unchanged this week, with the DWS reporting that water levels hold steady at 83.8%.
- Craigie Burns Dam: Craigie Burns Dam’s water levels are at a healthy 100.3%, showcasing an insignificant difference from last week’s 100.6%.
- Driel Barrage Dam: There is a slight improvement this week at Driel Barrage Dam, with water levels rising from last week’s 83% to 85.1%.
- Goedertrouw Dam: The dam’s water levels currently stand at 99.8%, showing a slight decrease from the previous week’s 100.2%.
- Hazelmere Dam: The current reading is 60.9% for this week, compared to last week’s 60.7%.
- Hluhluwe Dam: Hluhluwe Dam maintains a healthy water level of 100%, representing a slight difference from last week’s 100.4%.
- Inanda Dam: The dam’s water levels are at a commendable 100.7%, a slight increase from last week’s 100.6%.
- Klipfontein Dam: Klipfontein Dam experienced a slight decline to 82.7% this week from last week’s 83.3%.
- Mearns Dam: Mearns Dam registers a significant decline, with water levels at 85.8% this week, compared to last week’s 90.7%.
- Midmar Dam: Midmar Dam’s water levels remain unchanged this week at 78.9%.
- Nagle Dam: Nagle Dam records a decline from last week’s reading of 90.6% to this week’s 82.6%.
- Newcastle’s Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam: The dam’s water levels remain unchanged this week, coming in at a reading of 64.1%.
- Pongolapoort Dam: Pongolapoort Dam’s water levels currently stand at 72.9%, representing a slight decrease from last week’s 73%.
- Spioenkop Dam: The dam’s water levels are at 99.9% this week, showing a negligible decrease from last week’s 100.2%.
- Spring Grove Dam: Spring Grove Dam notes a slight decline in water levels, dropping from last week’s 71% to 69.9% this week.
- Wagendrift Dam: Wagendrift Dam’s water levels are currently at 83.7%, compared to last week’s 84.5%.
- Woodstock Dam: The dam records water levels of 89.2% this week, as compared to the previous week’s 89.1%.
- Zaaihoek Dam: According to the DWS, Zaaihoek Dam remains unchanged at 90.6%.
Reflecting on the Department of Water and Sanitation’s report on the state of KwaZulu-Natal’s dams, it should be noted that on Thursday, 30 November 2023, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) noted that the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is currently in an El Niño state and according to the latest predictions is expected to persist through most of the summer months.
“ENSO’s typical impact on Southern Africa is in favour of generally drier and warmer conditions during the spring and summer months from October to March. However, current global forecasts indicate a great deal of uncertainty for the typical drier conditions that South Africa experiences during typical El Niño seasons, over the eastern parts of the country,” said the weather service.
SAWS added that weather extremes will continue to occur from time to time during the summer season as drier conditions are expected. “Caution is advised at this point, as the El Niño effect might still manifest its influence in the next few months and change the outlook of the rainfall forecast for mid and late summer.”
As the weather service noted the potential for a drier summer, water conservation is essential to ensure that the province’s dams do not see water levels drop to extremely unhealthy levels.
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