According to a weekly dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Eastern Cape provincial water storage has once more declined to a low 53.4% this week compared to 54% last week.

During the same period last year, water levels in the province were at 58.8%.

The water situation is a concerning one in this drought stricken province and the Department appeals to water users to save water as much as possible to ensure water security.

Most parts of the province are facing the most devastating drought that has affected water availability.

While community members are encouraged to washing their hands with soap regularly to reduce the spread of the invisible coronavirus, the Department would like to plead with all water users to avoid wasting water by leaving the taps running for longer periods.

The Nelson Mandela Bay Metro and its surrounding areas, has been faced with water challenges with dam levels struggling to recover.

The Algoa Water Supply System with five dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay is hovering at 19.0% this week from 19.2% last week.

The dams in this system were measured as follows: Impofu dam (16.9%), Kromriver (58.8%), Kouga (7.8%), Loerie (49.9%) and Groendal (30.1%). Amathole Water Supply with six dams supplying water to Buffalo City improved from 42.9% last week to 43.4% this week. The dams in the system were measured as followed: Laing (100.5%), Rooikranz (92.2%), Bridle Drift (45.8%), Nahoon (51.3%), Gubu (71.0%) and Wriggleswade (22.2%).

The Klipplaat Water Supply System with three dams supplying water to Queenstown is at 43.2% this week from 43.3% last week. Waterdown dam is at 34.7%), Oxkraal is at 63.7% and Boesmanskrantz is at 45.9%.

Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Catchment Area is struggling to pick up the due to lack of rainfalls in the previous weeks and is sitting at 53.2%.

The Department continues to roll out water tankers to water stressed communities and schools as an immediate measure to assist in government’s efforts to flatten the Covid-19 curve.

Communities are urged to take responsibility of water infrastructure and stop vandalizing water tanks that are dispatched to supply water during this period of Covid-19 lockdown.