Spring season will increase water demand - Use water sparingly
South Africa enters a new season of Spring which is usually characterized by high temperatures in various parts of the country. Due to the expected scorching heat, water in the country's reservoirs will evaporate quicker resulting in considerable decline of water levels. The demand for water will also increase, causing strain to the supply systems, and a negative impact on areas that are already experiencing water supply shortages.
The Department of Water and Sanitation therefore calls on the water consumers to use water sparingly as the water reservoirs in most parts of the country are decreasing, despite being at high levels. This was revealed in a weekly report on state of reservoirs in the country issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week.
The average national volume of water stored in the reservoirs has decreased from last week's 92.1%, to 91.8% this week. This is a concern for the Department as the water levels continue to drop week on week, but this has however improved from last year's 81.0% national average mark at this time.
According to the Departmental Spokesperson, Mr Sputnik Ratau, the reservoirs in Gauteng, Northern Cape and Free State provinces are still at satisfactory levels. Despite a slight decrease of the dam levels in Gauteng Province, which in essence has small dams, they are still at high levels with 97.2% this week, though lower compared to last week's 97.5%. Free State dam levels have decreased from 99.0% last week to 98.4% this week. Northern Cape provincial water levels continue to rise with a record of 107.2% this week, an improvement from last week's 107.0%.
Eastern Cape water levels have also dropped slightly with the provincial water storage level at 70.5% this week, from last week's 70.7%. The Algoa Water Supply System with dams supplying the Nelson Mandela Bay has however slightly improved but remains at a very low level of 16.3% this week. Last week it was standing at 15.5%.
Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan (NMBM) is experiencing a severe drought which has adversely affected the local dams that supply water to the area. Kouga Dam which supplies the Nelson Mandela Bay is very low with 18.0% this week, a considerable increase from last week's 16.8%. Last year at this time, it was at its critically low levels of 5.4%. Loerie Dam has remained unchanged this week at 58.1%. Impofu Dam has also remained the same at a very low level of 10.1% this week. Groendal Dam has dropped to 20.1% this week, from 20.3% last week.
These critically low dams are a concern for the Department of Water and Sanitation, and there is a fear that they might be on a downslide because of high temperatures in the coming season.
Mr Ratau continued to encourage the residents to use water sparingly, particularly in Nelson Mandela Bay, which is facing a serious challenge of the taps running dry due to dwindling water levels in the water supply systems if there is no positive response from water users.
"It is a known fact that we are an arid country, ranking in the world's top 30 driest countries. Adding to this is the dire effect that climate change continues to pose on the country's weather patterns. We have seen how the province of Eastern Cape has been hit by drought, particularly in Nelson Mandela Bay. The high temperatures as we now begin the Spring season will also exacerbate the situation. We therefore appeal to the community of Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan and the surrounding areas to double their efforts to reduce their water usage and to save water", said Mr Ratau.
KwaZulu-Natal province has seen a decrease in its water levels from last week's 88.2% to 87.9% this week.
Hazelmere Dam has slightly increased from last week's 48.3% to 48.4% this week. Midmar Dam has dropped to 93.6% this week, from last week's 94.4%. Nagle Dam situated in Mgeni River has also slightly dropped to 96.2% this week, from 97.5% last week. Spring Grove has slightly dropped from last week's 99.7% to 98.9% this week. Craigie Burn Dam is still at its full capacity but has slightly dropped to 100.0% this week, from last week's 100.5%.
Mr Ratau has reiterated the call to water users in the provinces with dam water storage at full capacity or satisfactory levels to continue to use water sparingly, and conserve water as much as they can to ensure water security in their provinces.
It is noted that the water storage in Western Cape has experienced an increase this week to 71.4% this week from last week's 69.2%. The dam levels in the Western Cape were standing at 81.1% last year at this time, meaning there is a marked comparative decline. "The Western Cape Water Supply System with dams supplying water to the City of Cape Town has improved to 83.5% this week, compared to last week's 81.5%," Mr Ratau further explained.
North West province has also declined in its water levels, from last week's 79.2% to 78.9% this week. The provincial water levels have improved in comparison with the levels of 77.9% last year during this period. Klipvoor Dam has remained unchanged at 100.4% this week. Bospoort Dam has slightly decreased from last week's 101.4% to 101.2% this week. Buffelspoort Dam is also at its full capacity, with a minor increase from last week's 99.3% to 99.7% this week.
Mpumalanga dam levels have decreased from last week's 94.2% to this week's 93.7%. This is an improvement from when the province's water levels were standing at 80.5% last year at this time. Westoe Dam in Usutu river has declined from last week's 84.7% to 82.8% this week. The province's Nooitgedacht Dam has also declined to 99.6% this week, from last week's 99.7%. Vygeboom Dam has increased to 100.4% this week, compared to 99.6% this week. Kwena Dam is full but has dropped from last week's 100.0% to 98.9% this week. Longmere Dam has suffered a huge decline from last week's 96.3% to 92.4% this week.
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Water levels in Limpopo have also slightly decreased, recording 86.9% this week compared to last week's 87.2%. Flag Boshielo Dam is at its full capacity and has remained unchanged at 100.6% this week. In Mopani Region, a critically low Middel-Letaba Dam continues to drop and is at 1.0% this week, compared to last week's 1.1%. The biggest dam in Limpopo, De Hoop is also at its full capacity and has remained unchanged at 100.1% this week. Tzaneen continues to drop and is now at 94.5% this week from last week's 96.8%.
Free State dam levels have slightly decreased from last week's 99.0% to 98.4% this week. Fika Patso Dam, which supplies the residents of Phuthaditjhaba in QwaQwa, has dropped drastically to 81.3% compared to last week's 83.8%. The country's biggest dam in the Free State, Gariep, has slightly declined from last week's 97.2% to 96.5% this week.
Water consumers are urged to use water sparingly as Spring season arrives. This is a season where water demand is high due to the high temperatures. People need water to cool off during periods of scorching heat, and the country's dam levels will also decline due to evaporation. The Department of Water and Sanitation therefore calls on everyone to use water sparingly and save water at all costs.
Let us be mindful of the fact that the country's water levels are on a downslide week on week, though there is comfort in the levels as the rainy season approaches.
