KZN residents have been asked to use less water this time of year as summer approaches and temperatures continue to rise, lowering the province’s dam levels to dangerously low levels.
The Department of Water and Sanitation this week said that dam levels have dropped from last week’s 52.1% and currently sits at 51.7%.
While this is only a minor decline, the Department’s spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said that the drop is a weekly trend which is worrying.
“High temperatures cause water to evaporate and this obviously impacts on water levels. We are hoping that the summer rains expected towards the end of November and early December will rescue the situation,” Ratau said.
He added that the Department, along with local government, is working around the clock to help communities most affected by ensuring that water tanks and tankers are sent out to those in need.
“We understand the frustrations and the plight of the people. As a Department mandated to provide this basic need, we are doing the best that we can to support municipalities in enabling them to function optimally,” he said.
Ratau added that one of the key steps being taken is the increase in manpower to help municipalities increase their response times to water leaks callouts.
The Department has also sent a stern warning to those who vandalise water infrastructure, saying that the culprits will not be spared and will have to face the full might of the law.
Here’s a look at this week’s dam status in KwaZulu-Natal:
DAM
STATUS LAST WEEK
STATUS THIS WEEK
Albert-Falls
30.1%
29.2%
Hazelmere
39.5%
38.5%
Spring Grove
37.5%
35.3%
Klipfontein
44.3%
42.6%
Pongolapoort
39.9%
39.6%
Mearns
52.3%
50.4%
Goedertrouw
50.3%
51.1%
Ntshingwayo
63.9%
63.1%
Zaaihoek
50.5%
55.6%
Spioenkop
80.3%
79.4%
Inanda
77.1%
76.5%
Midmar
91.2%
90.7%
