As the winter season persists and less rain falls across KwaZulu-Natal, the question now stands: How healthy are the province’s dams, especially as the spring and summer rains are still months away?
According to the latest report from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), most of KZN’s dams are in healthy condition, with only Newcastle’s Ntshingwayo Dam’s water levels falling below 80%.
Nevertheless, here is a closer look at the condition of KZN’s dams:
- Albert Falls Dam’s water levels have dropped from last week’s 96% to this week’s 95.1%.
- Bivane Dam’s water levels remain unchanged at 100.3%.
- Craigie Burn Dam’s water levels remain unchanged at a healthy 100%.
- Driel Barrage Dam has seen its water levels increase from last week’s 92.8% to this week’s 101%.
- Goedertrouw Dam’s levels have dropped to 93.8% this week, a slight difference from the previous week’s reading of 94.1%.
- Hazelmere Dam’s water levels are currently at 81.5%, a slight difference from the previous week’s reading of 82%.
- Hluhluwe Dam’s levels are currently at 96.1%, as compared to the previous week’s 96.2%.
- Inanda Dam’s water levels are at a healthy 99.6%, as compared to the previous week’s 99.9%.
- Klipfontein Dam noted an insignificant drop in its water levels, dropping from last week’s 91.8% to this week’s reading of 90.5%.
- Mearns Dam, while still healthy, saw its levels drop from last week’s 102.1% to this week’s 100.4%.
- Midmar Dam remains steady. The DWS reported its water levels are currently at 94.1%, a slight difference from the previous week’s reading of 94.6%.
- Nagle Dam has noted an insignificant drop in its water levels, with the DWS reporting the levels are at 89.3% this week, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 90%.
- Newcastle’s Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam is currently at 73.5%, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 74.2%.
- Pongolapoort Dam’s water levels are at 85.3% this week, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 85.5%.
- Spioenkop Dam remains at a healthy level, with the dam’s water levels at 99.4%, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 100%.
- Spring Grove Dam, while at a healthy level, reported a slight drop in its water levels. The dam is at 91.2% this week, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 93%.
- Wagendrift Dam’s water levels are at 100.1%, as compared to the previous week’s reading of 100.3%.
- Woodstock Dam remains unchanged at an extremely healthy level of 100.3%.
- Zaaihoek Dam, according to the DWS, reports a reading of 90.6%.
While the state of the dams remains predominantly healthy, water conservation is of the utmost importance. Residents are urged to be vigilant about water losses in their respective suburbs and homes.
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