The KwaZulu-Natal provincial water storage has marginally improved following recent rains in some parts of province; however water conservation efforts need to be doubled to ensure water security.

The province’s dams rose from 54,9% last week to 56,5% this week. In the same period last year, the provincial dam storage capacity was 55,3%.

This was revealed in weekly dam levels report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

The Umgeni Water Supply System with five dams supplying water to eThekwini Metro, Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas slightly increased to 59.5% this week from 58.2% last week. However, the system is still below 60.1% capacity it was at during the same period last year.

The Inanda Dam within the system recorded 71,5% from last week’s 70,9%. Midmaar Dam increased from 90.3% last week to 91.4% this week. The Albert-Falls Dam is struggling to recover at 30.8%. during the same period last year, the dam was 35.1%.  Meanwhile, the Driel Barrage and Mearns Dams in the North Coast recorded 103,3% and 103,1% respectively.

The Spioenkop Dam is this week at 76, 2% from last week’s 74, 3%.

However, the Hazelmere Dam, located on the Mdloti River has decreased from 54, 6% to 54,4% this week. In the same period last year, the dam was at 44.9%.

The Wagendrift Dam is up from last week’s 100, 6% to 101,6%. Also experiencing an increase is the Nagle Dam at 93, 0% from 84,5 last week.

The Department has since called on residents to enhance water conservation measures, even amid the steady increase of dam levels in the province. 

This follows Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s earlier announcement of the province’s Emergency Drought Mitigation Plan amounting to approximately R 97 million.