/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The good news is that water released from the Sterkfontein Dam recently has just about reached the Vaal Dam and with good rains, the catchment increased from 26, 5% to 31, 5%.

The Integrated Vaal System has improved and is above 50% again.

In fact, all dams and systems benefitted from the good rains over the past week. The total volume of water in storage increased this week: 47, 9% to 48, 7%.

A number of dams are above 100%. The Crocodile West system benefitted from Tshwane and Johannesburg runoff, increased from 79, 8% to 84, 0%.  (Hartebeespoort & Roodeplaat Dams).

The Vaal System, with 14 dams serving Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom rose from 49% to 50, 6%. This system was 66, 3% during this time last year.

The Vaal dam is 31, 5% from 26, 2% last week.  Katse Dam is at 39, 1% from 37, 9%. Grootdraai rose sharply to 72, 5% from 65, 5%. Sterkfontein Dam declined slightly from 91, 8% to 91, 3%.  Bloemhof  Dam is the same as last week at 11, 4%.

The Orange River System declined slightly from 52, 4% to 52, 2%. This system stood at 68% this time last year. Polokwane System with two dams also dropped from 28, 3% to 28, 1%. The system was recorded at 64, 1% last year.

The Crocodile West System with six dams serving Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg was at 74, 9% last year but now rose to 84% this week from 79, 8%.

The Western Cape System with six dams serving the City of Cape Town was at 68, 1% last year but is now at 57, 8% from 58, 7%. Voelvlei Dam dropped from 69, 1% to 67, 4%, Berg River to 70, 4% from 71, 4% and Theewaterskloof is down from 50, 9% to 48, 5%.

The Brandvlei Dam levels dropped from 55, 1% to 53, 8%, Clanwilliam also went down to 92, 3% from 95% while Kwaggaskloof also dipped to 52, 9% from 53, 8%.

The Algoa System with five dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay dropped from 67, 3% to 66, 4%. The system was 100, 2% this time last year.

The Amatole System with six dams serving Buffalo City was 99, 2% last year and, gained from 77, 0% to 77, 7%.
The Umgeni System, with five dam serving Ethekwini and Munduzi, rose from 44, 3% to 46% but was at 63, 2 last year. The Nagle River rose from 69, 4% to 72, 3%. The Midmar Dam water levels rose from 48, 6% to 50, 5%.

The Hazelwere rose from 68, 5% to 71, 8% and the Pongolapoort upped by more than a point from 18, 2% 19, 6%.

The Goedertrouw rose from 18, 2% to 19, 6%. Hluhluwe upped from 20, 9% to 24, 4% while Klipfontein rose slightly from 10, 4% to 11, 6%. Water levels in these three dams are rising but are still low.

The Bloemfontein System with four dams serving Mangaung was 28, 3% last year but is now steady from 35, 5% to 36, 6%.

Even though there has been a slight increase in dam levels, the Department of Water and Sanitation wishes to advise community members and industries to adhere to water restriction imposed by their respective municipalities. It will take time for the dam levels to reach the normal levels.

Issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation