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Weather forecasters have given hope of heavy rains in the Western Cape in the next three months following an intense dry spell which have severely depleted dam levels in the province in the last six months. In its weekly report, the South African Weather Services predicted a higher than normal rainfall between the month of April and July for the province.

“There is a hint that the April to July period might have a chance of above normal rainfall for the Western Cape, however with a low level of confidence. However, the relative positioning and orientation of the upper trough might deviate slightly from what is currently forecast and there may still be a chance for decent rain for this particularly dry region during the weekend.” the report said This is good news for the communities in Western Cape where dam levels have plummeted to an all-time low of 24, 2 this week. Cape Town is the hardest hit by the drought conditions that have forced the City of Cape Town to impose severe water restrictions in order to cope with the water crisis. The Cape Town Metro is battling with forcing the residents to comply with Level 3B water restrictions.

The acute shortage of water in the Mother City has forced water stakeholders to hold a Provincial Water Indaba next monthto  look at better ways of combating the looming disaster.  Currently,  six dams that are serving Cape Town this week decreased by 1.5% to 25.3%%.  The system was at 31.8% at the same time last year. The Voelvlei dam down 1.6% to 23.7%%. The  Berg River Dam is down by 0.8% to 34.2%. The Theewaterskloof Dam is down by 1.1% to 20.8%. The City has imposed 20% restrictions for domestic use and 30% for agriculture use.

Low dam levels in Nelson Mandela Bay region remain a source of concern as the Algoa System, consisting five dams that feed the region, hovers around 45, 4%. In Gauteng,  the Vaal River System with 14 rivers that are serving mainly Gauteng Sasol and Eskom has decreased by 0.5% to 86.3% compared with 86, 8% last week.  Katse Dam is down by 1.0 % to 51.2%. Vaal Dam is down  by 0.5% to 104.4%. The Sterkfontein Dam increased by 0.2% to 89.8%.

The Grootdraai Dam is down to 97.5%. Bloemhof Dam is down to 101.6%. The Crocodile River System with six dams that serve mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg is up by 0,3 % shooting dam levels to 97,6% from 97, 3% last week. This time last year the system stood at 95% Meanwhile, South Africa’s dam levels are beginning to experience a slight decline week-on-week following the absence of rain in parts of the country recently.

Most dams were filled to capacity last month after Cyclone Dineo swept through KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces. The storm was followed by the tropical front that ensconced itself in Gauteng, Free State, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and North West and it brought along torrential rains. Consequently, all but two dams in North were filled to capacity and consumers breathed a sigh of relief. In KwaZulu-Natal the water situation remained stable with five dams in the Umgeni System continue to serve Msunduze (Pietermaritzburg) and eThekwini (Durban). The once dry Hazelmere Dam is bursting at seams 107.4%. Albert Falls Dam is up by 0.5% to 36.1%. Midmar Dam just outside Pietermaritzburg has experienced an increase of 0.3% to 75.5%. Restrictions of 15% for domestic use, 50% for irrigation and 15% for industry in remain in place. 
 
Other dams in the province which are on the watch list  are Klipfontein 65.1% an increase 0.5%;  Hluhluwe down 0.5% at 37.3% and Goedertrouw steady at 30.3%.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has given a letter of intent to a Project Service Provider and is currently finalizing the contract arrangements to implement the Tugela transfer augmentation. Pongolapoort Dam is up by 0.1% to 41.2%.  In Richards Bay ten megalitre per day desalination plant with 651 cubic metres a day has been completed.

 

Issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation