According to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly status of dams, Limpopo provincial water storage has shot up, soaring from 60.3% last week to 64.7% this week.

This is an improvement that is worthy of attention given the fact that same time last year water levels were at 61.6%. This week’s rise is an effect of heavy downpours influenced by tropical cyclone ‘’Eloise’’ which ravaged parts of the province particularly in Vhembe district.

The biggest dam in Vhembe District; Nandoni situated just outside Thohoyandou in the Luvuvhu Water Supply System, which is supplied by Luvuvhu river has moved up from last week’s104.2% to 106.2% this week, this is an enormous increase from last year’s 91.9%.

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The nearby dams also followed suit in rising; Nzhelele Dam climb from 70.1% to 104.1%, Nwanedzi soars from 47.9% to 102.6%, Luphephe upsurge from 78.8 to 102.8% and Vondo increase slightly from 101.2% to 103.9%. De Hoop Dam situated in Steelpoort River in the eastern part of the province slightly dropped from last week’s 90.5% to 90.3%.

This is a moderate increase from last year’s 89.2%. Flag Boshielo Dam located in Olifants River which is part of Polokwane Water Supply System is sitting comfortably at 80.2%, a minor decrease compared to last week’s 81.1%. Same period last year it was over 100% at 104.7%.

Magoebaskloof Dam located between Polokwane and Tzaneen which mainly provides irrigation to the surrounding areas jumped up from last week’s 100.8% to 103.5%. Rust De Winter Dam has risen from 100.0% last week to 100.2%. Klaserie Dam is at 107.3% a rise from last week’s 103.4%, same time last year it was at 100.6%.

The following dams are also floating above 100% mark: Hans Merensky 109.5 from last week’s 102.3%, Vergelegen 103.6% up from last week’s 101.6% and Dap Naude Dam 108.4%. There are dams that are still below 40% even though they have witnessed some increase namely; Middel-Letaba at 1.7%, Glen Alpine at 18.3%, Doorndraai at 10.3%, Ebenezer at 38.3. %, Tzaneen is at 38.5% and Modjadji is also low at 28.4%. The Department of Water and Sanitation continues to warn residents in the province to stay away from flooded areas, rivers and dams to avoid being swept away.