A decline in dams levels of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) has this negatively impacted the overall levels of the system.

Water consumers thus need to intensify efforts to cut back on water use.

The IVRS, which consists of 14 dams, is one of the country’s systems that is key for supplying water to businesses and households.

The system saw a decrease from 66.3% last week to the present 65.8%. During the same time last year the system was sitting at 68.0%.

One of the dams in the IVRS that is vital for providing leading industries such as Sasol and Eskom in Gauteng, the Vaal Dam, has again dropped to lower levels this week.

The dam fell from 55.1% to 54.7%. This is in stark contrast from the 70.6% the dam recorded at the same period last year.

After it remained stagnant last week, the Grootdraai Dam slightly decreased this week. The dam fell from 99.0% to 96.3%. Despite the drop, the levels of the dam are still higher compared to the 84.2% it recorded at the corresponding period last year.

The Katse Dam has this week dipped further down, decreasing from 34.0% to 33.8% this week. Last year at the same week the dam stood at 35.8%. Presently standing at nearly dry levels of 12.6%, the Mohale Dam saw a further decline. The dam dropped to 13.0%.

As most of the dams have shown a decline, the Department of Water and Sanitation in Gauteng “views the current situation as compelling for water users to heighten efforts to save water.”

“Being the most populous province, Gauteng water users are called upon to go easy on water use. Water consumers are urged to use the available water resource only for necessities, including the washing of hands as the dreaded coronavirus continues to spread.”