A report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on status of reservoirs has shown a consistent decrease in the Eastern Cape provincial water storage, a decline from 52.9% last week to this week’s 52.3%.
The area of Nelson Mandela Bay has been hard hit by water shortages due to lack of rains that have caused dam levels to plummet at an alarming rate for months, posing a serious threat to water security. The Algoa Water Supply System with five crucial dams, supplying water to the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has not shown any signs of recovery as it continues to decline at unprecedented levels. This week, the system further declined to a paltry 11.4% from equally paltry 11.8% last week. The last year’s level of 19.4% recorded during this period is a sign that the area is facing a relentless drought that requires all the hands on the deck to fight. Some of the dams in the system include Kouga Dam which is almost empty at 4.2%; Impofu Dam declined is low at 14.6%; Loerie Dam dropped to 37.8% this week. The Department through its entity, Rand Water will deliver 100 water tanks and 10 water tankers (trucks) to Nelson Mandela Bay Metro this week as part of its immediate interventions as directed by Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
Amathole Water Supply System with six dams supplying water to Buffalo City has declined from 33.8% last week to 33.6% this week. Klipplaat Water Supply System with three dams supplying water to Chris Hani District slightly increased from 27.4% last week to 27.6% this week but the system remains low.
Some of the dams that shown a decline this week include Bridle Drift Dam (25.4%), Sandile Dam (56.1%), Xilinxa Dam (16.2%); Macubeni Dam (98.9%); Xonxa Dam (98.1%); Waterdown Dam (23.8%); and Tsojana Dam is sitting at 99.1%. The Department of Water and Sanitation appeals to all water users to use water sparingly while it is working on various intervention projects in various parts of the province that will ensure water security. The current situation in the province and drought stricken area should make us realise that water is scarce and South Africa remains a dry country.
