THE rise in dam levels is very disappointing after the recent good rains. Some hope is that there is still inflow into the dams, although minimal and the rate is decreasing by the hour.
This is according to Garth Sampson, client liaison officer of the South African Weather Service’s Eastern Cape Region, who said instead of an increase, there was an overall drop of dam levels of -0.1 %.
“However, considering that we have an average of a 0.46% drop per week, one can thus assume that there was in fact a real rise of 0.45%, but that has been used up already. Although the inflow is disappointing, it did buy us another week, till we reach the critical 10%, where extraction from the dams becomes extremely difficult,” said Sampson.
According to him the week ahead looks completely dry, which is even more disappointing for Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole’s water woes.
“Another interesting fact is that many would believe that the rain so far this month is above normal. Although only a third of the month has passed, the 42 mm received thus far is well below the average of 58 mm for May.”
The NMB area had a varied rainfall of between 2 mm at Uitenhage and 53 mm at 3rd Avenue Dip. The Langkloof (NMB main catchment) received between 35 mm at Joubertina and 55 mm at Avontuur. Unconfirmed reports were received of figures of as much as 143 mm at Krakeelrivierhoek.
The area just east of Joubertina, including Kareedouw, is the catchment area for water flowing into the Churchill and Impofu dams. From Joubertina to the west up the Langkloof and into the Kouga Mountains are the catchment areas for water flowing into the Kouga Dam.
