The Department of Water and Sanitation has urged both business and households to use water sparingly, especially since the Vaal Dam has recorded a slight decline.

Presently, the levels of the Vaal Dam, which is one of the 14 dams in the Integrated Vaal River System, are at 51.3%, down from last week’s 51.8%.

Both levels are far lower compared with the 72.7% the dam recorded at the same period last year.

The Grootdraai Dam has also seen a minor decrease, falling from 90.2% last week to 89.9% this week. During the same period last year the dam was sitting at 78.2%, indicating that the dam has been being steadily on the upsurge.

Slightly higher when compared with the 93.4% it recorded last week and last year at the same time, the Sterkfontein Dam is currently floating at 93.5%.

The Bloemfoh Dam notched up from 98.0% last week to 99.5% this week. At
the same period in the preceding year, the dam hovered at an impressive 102.0%

Both the Katse and the Mohale dams continue to float below the 50% mark.
The Katse Dam has increased marginally increased from 37.9% last week to 38.0% this week while the Mohale Dam recorded a decrease to 15.3% from 15.7% last week.

Overall, the Integrated Vaal River System has increased from 45.5% last week to 46.2% this week. These levels are lower compared with the 54.2 the dam recorded during the same time week last year.

The Department of Water and Sanitation is thus urging business and households to use water wisely, especially during the unprecedented time of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department further appeals to communities to wash hands with water and soap to protect against themselves against the spread of the virus.