Large reservoirs in the Free State have dropped significantly – even below the levels of last year. The latest report of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) indicates that the overall water storage was at 84.9% following the lack of much-needed rain.
By the same time last year, the province’s overall level was at 100.4%, and the healthy state of the reservoir dams was attributed to good rainfall. The latest report showed that major dams in the province were below the 90% capacity mark and others below 70%.
The sharp decline signals agency for consumers to use water sparingly and the municipalities to seriously improve their water management systems by, for example, fixing leakages. The failure by municipalities to fix leakages has been found to account for the biggest loss in drinkable water.
The department blames the sharp decline in water levels to natural causes, such as climate change driven by a heatwave. The department urges consumers to use water sparingly.
The Fika-Patso Dam, one of the two major dams supplying water to the greater Qwaqwa, is currently hovering at 69.0%. The other dam, Metsi-Matso, is currently at 96.2%.
The department has warned that consumers in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District will be affected due to the closure of the Lesotho Highlands water project tunnel for maintenance. This tunnel is being prepared for a six-month closure (from 1 October to 31 March 2025) due to planned maintenance. This is a joint venture to be undertaken by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority.
According to the department, the water supply capacity in the district is standing at 99.5% as opposed to last year’s 101.3%. The Lejweleputswa District is at 99.5% with a slight decrease from last year’s 101.3%. The Xhariep District’s present capacity is 88.0%, whilst last year it stood at 99.3%. In the Fezile Dabi District, the water capacity level is at 84.0%, compared to 99.3% last year.
