The levels of large water storage dams in the Free State, the water of which is used for human consumption and industrial purposes, have declined drastically. The Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) weekly report shows most dams’ average is 70%, below the 85% of last year.
The weekly report shows the province’s total capacity has dropped to 73% – a great decline from last year’s 88,1%. This sharp decline in the storage dams is blamed on factors such as changing climate and poor rainfall. This is further worsened by various municipalities’ dismal failure to maintain water infrastructure and fix of leaks.
The severely impacted dams are the Vaal Dam (31,5%), Allemanskraal (47,2%) and Fika Patso (49,6 %), which supplies water to the greater Qwaqwa.
The level of South Africa’s giant Gariep Dam has decreased drastically, and is hovering at 69,6%, while last year the dam stood at 87,2%.
Three dams in a healthy state are the Vaalrivier Barrage, sitting at 95,3%; Vanderkloof, sitting at 91,2%; and Sterkfontein at the 97,7% mark.
The Groothoek dam, which feeds Thaba Nchu, is hovering at 55,8%; and the Koppies Dam, suppling the town of Koppies, is sitting at 58,3%. The Rustfontein Dam is sitting at 58,5%.
The dams which have seen water levels decrease to the 70% mark are Armenia, Bloemhof, Egmont, Erfenis, Kalkfontein, Metsi-Matsho, and Krugersdrift.
The water level of the Knellpoort Dam is hovering at 87,9%.
The Bloemfontein water supply system, which consists of the dams Welbedacht, Knellpoort, Krugersdrift, Mockes and Rustfontein, supplying the Mangaung Metro and surrounds, has also seen a sharp decline to below 80%. The system was hovering at 85,4% during the end of winter and beginning of spring. Last year the system was at 96,7%, by this time.
The Saulspoort Dam in Bethlehem is sitting at a 90,8% water level, but this is still below last year’s mark of 98,8%. The Tierpoort Dam, mainly for agriculture irrigation, is sitting at 76,7%.
