Water and Sanitation on decline in country's water levels

• Published date: 05 May 2022
• Publication title: South African Official News

A weekly status of reservoirs report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week demonstrate a minimal decline of water levels compared to the same period last week. This week, the overall storage capacity of the country's water level sits at 95.4%, a slight decline from last week's 96.2%, and a notable enhancement from last year's 84.8%.

One of the major Water Supply Systems which covers several provinces, the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) has moderately decreased from 103.8% last week to 102.1% this week. Algoa, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Cape Town and Umgeni Water Supply Systems have all declined week on week. The systems have respectively recorded 13.1%, 69.1%, 103.6%, 66.1% and 101.7% in the current week.

Water Supply System that have improved in water levels are; Amathole, Crocodile East, Klipplaat, Umhlathuze, Crocodile West and Orange River, whereas Luvuvhu is steady and unmoved at 101.7%.

Seven out of nine provinces have recorded a reduction in water levels namely, Free State moved down marginally from 105.9% to 105.2%, Eastern Cape dwindled moderately from 68.0% to 67.0%, Gauteng recorded a tiny downturn from 102.9% last week to 102.0%. Limpopo dropped slightly from 89.5% to 89.1%. Northern Cape plummeted from 121.8% to 112.1%, Western Cape declined from 55.4% to 53.9% and the floods hit KwaZulu-Natal also decreased from 94.3% to 93.0%.

Only two provinces are on the increment trajectory: Mpumalanga elevated marginally from 95.2% to 95.3%, and North West stands at 80.1%, minimal expansion from last week's 79.6%.

Vaal and Grootdraai Dams which are part of the IVRS have slightly dropped from 111.6% to 107.1% and 103.1% to 102.6% respectively. Both Gariep and Vanderkloof Dams which are part of Orange River Water Supply System have recorded increases from 104.9.% and 105.8% to 106.0% and 106.8%.

In the flood hit KwaZulu-Natal, Albert Falls Dam, an integral part of the Umgeni Water Supply System which supplies water to eThekwini Metro...