The Vaal river system has finally seen a positive improvement in water levels over the last week. Summer rains as well as the water released from the Sterkfontein Dam increased the water levels in the Vaal’s catchment area by 5% (from 26, 5% to 31, 5%).

“The Integrated Vaal System has improved and is above 50% again,” the department of Water and Sanitation said in a statement.

The department said that all dams and river systems around drought-stricken South Africa benefitted from the good rains over the past week and that a number of dams were above 100%.

The total volume of water in storage increased from 47, 9% to 48, 7%, the department added.

Dam and river water levels

• The Crocodile West system, including the Hartbeespoort and Roodeplaat Dams, benefitted from Tshwane and Johannesburg runoff, as levels increased from 79, 8% to 84, 0%.
• The Vaal System, with 14 dams serving Gauteng, Sasol and Eskom rose from 49% to 50, 6%. This system was 66, 3% full this time last year. The Vaal dam is currently at 31, 5% from 26, 2% last week.
• The Katse Dam is at 39, 1%, up from from 37, 9%.
• Grootdraai rose sharply to 72, 5% from 65, 5%.
• The Sterkfontein Dam declined slightly from 91, 8% to 91, 3%.
• The Bloemhof Dam remained 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 which has two dams dropped from 28, 3% to 28, 1%. The system was recorded at 64, 1% last year.
• The Western Cape System with six dams serving the City of Cape Town was at 68, 1% this time last year but is now at 57, 8%, up from 58, 7%.
• The Voelvlei Dam dropped from 69, 1% to 67, 4%, the Berg River dropped 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 up 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 department said. “The Bloemfontein System with four dams serving Mangaung was 28, 3% last year but is now steady from 35, 5% to 36, 6%.”

Despite the slight increase in dam levels, communities and industries are still being encouraged to adhere to water restrictions imposed respective municipalities. “It will take time for the dam levels to reach the normal levels,” the department said.