BLOEMFONTEIN – Free State provincial dams reached 106.7% capacity this week, up from 101.3% at the same time last year, following heavy rainfall across the country in recent weeks.

According to the Weekly Status of Dams Report released by the Department of Water and Sanitation earlier this week, several dams are overflowing and may cause water courses to overflow.

The Krugersdrift Dam, located 38 km outside Bloemfontein, sits at 102.4% this week, down slightly from last week’s 106.4%. The dam supplies the farming community around the area through canals. Sterkfontein Dam sits at 99.5%, whilst Metsi-Matsho Dam reached is at 99.8%.

Gariep Dam, the country’s largest dam situated on the border of Free State and Eastern Cape, is at 109.1% this week, down from 120.4% last week. The dam yielded 98.5% at the same time last year. Gariep also supplies water to an Eskom hydroelectric power station housing four 90-megawatt generators, giving a maximum output of 360 MW.

Fika-Patso Dam’s current capacity is at 99.1% this week. Bloemhof Dam has dropped from last week’s 110.5% to 105.4%, whilst Groothoek Dam decreased from 98.9% to 98.7%.

Vanderkloof Dam, the country’s second-largest dam located downstream from Gariep Dam, decreased from 112.3% last week to 109.1% this week. Welbedacht Dam, which supplies Mangaung, is at 100%, whilst Rustfontein Dam is at 100.5%.

The department continues to urge water users to use water sparingly and report any water leaks from household taps and other water infrastructure in their area.

The department will carry out inspections and assessments of all national dams under its authority to safeguard dam infrastructure.