Mpumalanga records a dip in water levels
The Mpumalanga Province recorded a dip in water levels in the listed dams and catchment areas of the past week. According to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) weekly state of reservoirs report of 28 March 2022, the average water levels in storage in the listed dams in the Mpumalanga Province dropped from 93.2% to 93.0% which is still better than the same period last year when the levels stood at 88.6%. In the water management areas (WMA), the Olifants (WMA) remained unchanged at 81.6% and the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA slightly dropped from 98.6% to 98.5%.
The Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District recorded mixed results in relation to dam levels. Driekoppies and Klipkopjes dams remained unchanged at 100.6% and 100.0% respectively. Improving in water levels, Buffelskloof increased from 100.3% to 100.4%, Longmere from 97.4% to 101.1%, Witklip from 100.4% to 100.5%, Primkop from 100.4% to 101.3%, Da Gama from 99.8% to 100.3% and Ohrigstad from 47.4% to 48.1%. On the down slide, Blyderivierpoort dropped from 100.5% to 100.4%, Kwena from 100.6% to 100.5% and Inyaka from 85.2% to 85.0%.
In the Gert Sibande District, Morgenstond Dam recorded the only improvement, slightly increasing from 98.4% to 98.8% and Vygeboom remained unchanged at 100.9%. Declining in water volumes, Grootdraai Dam dropped from 101.8% to 100.9%, Nooitgedacht from 94.3% to 92.2%, Jericho from 100.6% to 100.3%, Westoe from 99.8% to 99.4% and Heyshope from 100.4% to 100.3%.
In the Nkangala District, Loskop Dam is the only listed dam that recorded a decline in water volumes, dropping from 100.4% to 100.1% and Witbank Dam remained unchanged at 98.2%. Middelburg and Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo dams recorded slight improvements with Middelburg Dam increasing from 98.3% to 98.4% and Mkhombo Dam increasing from 25.7% to 26.1%.
In light of the dropping water levels and the approaching dry winter season, the Department of Water and Sanitation encourages the public to use the available water wisely and sparingly. The Department also encourages every citizen to become an ambassador of water conservation to ensure reliable and sustainable water supply for the current and future generations.
Source: Government of South Africa