Limpopo water levels rise as tropical cyclone “Eloise” wreaks havoc
SEKHUKHUNE
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%. 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.
