The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) of the Republic of South Africa is urging the public to continue using the available water wisely and sparingly as the water levels remains unchanged at 95% in the Mpumalanga Province.
According to DWS reports, water levels in the Water Management Area (WMA) recorded declines with the Olifants WMA dropping from 84.5% to 84.3% and Inkomati-Usuthu WMA dropping from 98.9% to 98.8%.
In the Lowveld and Ehlanzeni District, most of the listed dams remains unchanged and only Driekopppies and Witklip dams recorded slight increase of 100.3% to 100.4% and 100.1% to 100.2% respectively.
The dams that remained unchanged include Blyderivierpoort at 100.2%, Buffelskloof at 100.2%, Longmere at 100.7%, Klipkopjes at 99.8%, Primkop at 100.9% and Kwena at 100.2%.
On the downward side, Da Gama dropped from 99.8% to 99.3%, Inyaka from 86.7% to 86.5% and Ohrigstad from 51.1% to 50.4%.
In Gert Sibande District, only Morgenstond Dam recorded an improvement, slightly increasing from 100.3% to 100.4%. Nooitgedacht and Heyshope remained unchanged at 100.4% respectively.
Declining in water volumes, Grootdraai dropped from 100.2% to 100.0%, Vygeboom from 100.5% to 100.3%, Jericho from 100.0% to 99.7% and Westoe from 93.9% to 92.9%.
In the Nkangala District, Rhenosterkop / Mkhombo Dam continued its rise and breached the 50% mark, increasing from 49.8% to 50.1%. Middelburg Dam is the other listed dam that recorded an improvement, slightly increasing from 98.5% to 98.6%.
Witbank and Loskop dams recorded decline in water volumes, dropping from 101.6% to 101.3% and 100.7% to 100.6% respectively.
The Department of Water and Sanitation further reminds the public that South Africa is a water scarce country which makes every count, therefore everyone is required to practise water conservation for water security for the current and future generations.
The Minister for Water and Sanitation, Senzo Mchunu in a release encouraged communities in the province and across the country to practice active citizenry by leading activities of cleaning up water sources.
“We should not just not do it because it is Mandela Day, but because we want to keep a clean and healthy environment and also to secure water supply where we live” he said.
The river clean up coincided with the Department’s clear river campaign which takes place in the month of July and is a call of action to prevent the pollution of water, this year themed “South Africa is a water scarce country, clean up and protect water resources”.
