A weekly dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation this week has shown a marginal increase of KwaZulu-Natal’s dam levels.

According to the report, the province’s dam storage capacity has increased from 58,7% last week to 60,3% this week.

The Umgeni Water Supply System with five dams which supplies water to eThekwini Metro, Umgungundlovu, Msunduzi Municipalities and surrounds, has slightly increased from last week’s 63,0% to 65,0% this week.

A minimal increase when compared to the same period last year, which was 62.4%.

The Albert-Falls Dam positioned in the Umgeni River is below average at 34.3% this week. It was 33,2% last week.

Meanwhile, the Midmaar Dam located near Howick and Pietermaritzburg has increased from 93.5% to 94,7% this week.

The Pongolapoort Dam situated in Northern KwaZulu-Natal is at 43.9% from last week’s 43,8%. When compared to the same period last year, the Dam was at 42.1%.

Also experiencing an increase is the Goedertrouw Dam which provides water to industrial areas in Richards Bay is at 52,0% this week from 51,7% last week.

The Bivane Dam near Vryheid has slightly increased from 91.3% to 93,7%. This time last year, the Dam was at 96.3%. The Spring Grove Dam has increased from last week’s 44.6% to 50.9% this week.

The Hazelmere Dam (56.0%) and Inanda Dam (78.7%) have also increase marginally from last week’s 55.6% and 77.2% respectively.

The Department has called on residents to use water sparingly.

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday called for drastic behavioural change in order to ensure water security.

She told Parliament during the State of the Nation Address debate that on average, South Africans use 237 litres per person per day, whereas the world average is 173 litres per person per day.