KwaZulu-Natal could soon be added to the growing list of drought disaster areas following Umgeni Water’s recent announcement that one of the province’s main storage dam levels is critically low.

In a recent statement the utility said it was concerned about the level of the Albert Falls dam which has remained at under 30% for the last two years. The dam, which is strategically important according to Umgeni Water, is currently at 23%, the lowest it has been in 20 years.

According to the utility the high evaporation rate of surface water at the dam and current high temperatures are making mater worse. “It has been estimated by Umgeni Water that in the worst-case scenario – meaning if there is no rainfall, if high temperatures continue and if no water is released from Midmar Dam – Albert Falls could reach dead storage in a year,” the utility said.

Water restrictions

Earlier this month, the Mgeni sytem Joint Operations Committee (JOC) met in Durban to reassess the status of water resources in the system.

The committee decided that while good rains in Midmar Dam’s catchments had improved the level of the dam significantly the system in its totality was still short of a target of 70% before current restrictions could be eased or removed.

“The collective amount of water currently in the Mgeni system is 62% – 8% less than the amount required before a firm pronouncement could be made that there is adequate water to meet the full demands of uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg and Durban,” the utility said.

It was also decided at the JOC meeting that Umgeni Water will continue to reduce potable water production by 15%, meaning that municipalities of Msunduzi, uMgungundlovu and eThekwini will have reduce demand by 15% and households, business, industry and government sector will also have to reduce consumption by 15%.

Meanwhile other parts of Umgeni Water’s operational area are doing much better with dams in the South Coast in a healthy state and able to meet the full needs of their residents.