The Department of Water and Sanitation has urged communities in Mpumalanga to use water sparingly as dam levels across the province continue to decline.
According to the department’s latest weekly state of reservoirs report, the provincial average dam level decreased from 98.7% to 98.3%, with all but three dams recording declines over the past week.
Conservation efforts
The three dams that recorded no change are located in the Lowveld region of the Ehlanzeni District. These include Longmere, which is at 101.6%, Klipkopjes at 100.4%, and Primkop at 101.7%.
The department has called for strengthened water conservation efforts and to prevent water wastage amid declining dam levels and concerns about the potential impact of a Super El Niño weather phenomenon.
The Limpopo-Olifants Water Management Area (WMA) declined from 99.8% to 99.1%, while the Inkomati-Usuthu WMA decreased from 97.8% to 97.5%.
At district level, Ehlanzeni’s average dam levels dropped from 99.9% to 99.6%, Gert Sibande from 97.5% to 97.2%, and Nkangala from 99.6% to 99.0%.
Decreases
“The listed dams that recorded declines in water levels include Kwena Dam from 99.8% to 99.2%, Witklip Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%, Da Gama Dam from 99.8% to 99.3%, Driekoppies Dam from 100.4% to 100.2%, Inyaka Dam from 100.1% to 99.7%, Blyderivierpoort Dam from 100.2% to 100.1%, Buffelskloof Dam from 100.3% to 100.2%, and Ohrigstad Dam from 88.6% to 87.5%,” the department said.
All listed dams in Gert Sibande also recorded decreases. Grootdraai Dam declined from 100.6% to 100.4%, Nooitgedacht Dam from 99.2% to 98.6%, Vygeboom Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%, and Jericho Dam from 91.7% to 90.5%.
Westoe Dam dropped from 52.5% to 51.9%, Morgenstond Dam from 100.3% to 99.9%, and Heyshope Dam from 100.4% to 100.3%.
The report also indicated a decline in dam levels across the Nkangala District, with all listed dams recording decreases.
Witbank Dam declined from 99.2% to 98.4%, Middelburg Dam from 94.6% to 94.2%, Loskop Dam from 100.2% to 99.5%, and Rhenosterkop/Mkhombo Dam from 100.0% to 99.5%.
Use water wisely
The department urged water users to use water wisely and prevent wastage by fixing leaking taps and pipes. Communities are also encouraged to report leaks in bulk water pipelines and incidents of infrastructure vandalism to the relevant institutions and authorities.
The department reiterated that South Africa is a water-scarce country, requiring responsible and efficient water use by households, businesses and other water users.
“Every drop counts as water has no substitute,” the department said.