In late December the Water and Sanitation Department indicated that the release of extra water from the Katse Dam in Lesotho would bolster water supply and relieve the impact of the drought.

The flow of the 10 Cumec started in late December and was expected to take ten days to reach the abstraction point in Aliwal North, covering a distance of about 530 kilometres. Margaret-Ann Diedricks, Water and Sanitation Director General authorised the release of extra water from the Katse Dam. Diedricks said while the water will be flowing, there will be constant monitoring to assist in the decision to either increase or decrease the flow.

Early this week the DWS did however indicate that the water released from the Dam had NOT YET reached the abstraction weir at Aliwal North. Saying what was observed at the weir on Sunday morning was rather only storm water.

Terms of the release
The release is done in terms of the bilateral agreement between the governments of the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho as part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.

“This is one of the measures taken to advise on and prevent unauthorised use of this water as the water, once it reaches Aliwal North, is meant for human consumption and not for other uses. It is also necessary for all to desist from any acts that could result in illegal abstraction of this water. The DWS will continue to monitor the situation and give updates when necessary” the Department indicated.

Adding that the release was deemed necessary to restore and stabilise water levels in the Upper Orange River (upstream from Gariep Dam) to enable abstractions for domestic use, especially at Aliwal North in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality in the Eastern Cape.