The declining dam levels in the province are a major concern
LIMPOPO
The Department of Water and Sanitation in
Limpopo encourages water consumers in the province to prioritise water
conservation as the water situation is at an alarming level.
A weekly report by the department shows that the
province’s average dam level has dropped to 51,6% in the past week. The
province has experienced exceedingly hot temperatures in the past weeks, which
has resulted in most dams declining drastically.
However, scattered rains fell over parts of the
province on Thursday and helped to cool down scorching temperatures. The South
African Weather Service issued a warning of yet another heatwave in the
province over the coming weekend with temperatures reaching between 33 and 36
degrees.
In these blistering conditions residents are
advised to avoid unnecessary exposure and stay indoors until late afternoon
when the heat has subsided. Those who are forced by circumstances such as work
and school should drink as much as three litres of water a day to cope. Fizzy
drinks and alcohol are a definite no-no as this might impact on their health.
The department calls on water consumers in the
province to continue using water sparingly and adhere to water restrictions
imposed by their respective municipalities. The weekly report added that water
that is stored in reservoirs is 768.8 cubic metres for a capacity of 1522.3
cubic metres. This is a decline compared the same period last year when
readings were recorded at 64.7%
Figures on the summary of Water Management Area
(WMA) for the province, Limpopo reflect a decline compared to last year this
time when water levels were at 65.5% compared to the current 55.6%. Olifants
Dam is sitting at 48.6% showing a decline compared to last week’s 62.1%, which
should alarm Limpopo residents to continue prioritising water conservation at
all
times.
The report further states that Polokwane Water
Supply Systems declined by 1% from 49.9% last week to 48.9% this week. The
Luvuvhu Water Supply Systems is close to its full capacity at 84.4%, even
though it dropped by 0.8% compared to last week when readings recorded 85.2%.
The province has 28 strategic dams under the two
Water Management Areas (WMAs), which is Limpopo-North West and Olifants.
Water allocation is 84% for agricultural use, 11% for domestic usage, 4%
for mining and 1% for industries. About five dams are below 10%.Tzaneen
Dam in Groot- Letaba h is sitting at 6.8% while Middle
Letaba in the Greater Giyani Local Municipality
is at 3.3%, Modjadji dam in Greater Letaba LM is at 6.0%, the Glen Alpine
in Mokgalakwena declined to 3.5%
and Doorndraai Dam is 9.0%.
The declining dams are having a negative impact
on agriculture which uses it for the irrigation of crops. The
department, therefore, calls on farmers to always play their role in saving
water as it will affect their crops and animals if the dams were to run
dry.
Ebenezer Dam in Groot Letaba, which supplies
majority of the communities around Polokwane, has declined from 39.6% last
week to 37.8% this week
In Vhembe District area of the province, dam
levels are in a satisfactory state with regard to water storage, with
Nandoni Dam currently sitting at 88.2% this week, Vondo dam sitting at
81.8% compared to last week’s at 82.8% which brings relief to communities
around that area.
De Hoop Dam in Steelpoort, which supply the
community of Sekhukhune and the local mining industry, is at 78.3%,
showing a slight decline compared to last week’s at 78.8%. Flag Boshielo
in the Olifants has declined slightly from 53.7% to 53.1%.
The department is appealing to water users in
the province to continue using water sparingly and adhere to water
restrictions imposed by their respective municipalities. Water is a scarce
resource and catalytic towards economic development and it must therefore
be conserved at all times.
