South Africa to not run out of water during dry winter, statistics show

A weekly report by the department estimates that the current national storage is at 23 209.4 cubic meters out of a capacity of 32 321 cubic meters.

South Africa has enough water to see the country through the dry winter but the sustainability of the water may be compromised if consumers are negligent.

“It is almost certain that South Africa will not run out of water during the dry winter spell, with statistics showing that there is sufficient water in reservoirs for use until the next summer rains,” the Department of Water and Sanitation said.

A weekly report by the department estimates that the current national storage is at 23 209.4 cubic meters out of a capacity of 32 321 cubic meters.

According to the report, the current winter rainfall in the Western Cape has boosted South Africa’s water capacity to high levels, with the provincial dam levels reaching the 50% mark after torrential rains fell in most parts of the province in the last 12 days.

The rains have raised hopes of a bumper season among wine producers and citrus farmers in Stellenbosch and the Boland.

Free State tops all the provinces with an estimated 15 945 cubic meters of water stored in the province’s reservoirs in past months. The current provincial dam levels stand at 86.7%. Mpumalanga has recorded the second-largest storage at 2 538, 6 cubic meters, with the Western Cape following at 1 865.7 cubic meters.

“The figure for Western Cape is likely to increase dramatically as more downpours are expected in the province in the next three months,” the department said.

Although Gauteng has the highest dam levels at 94.4% this week, the province has fewer and smaller dams compared to other provinces. Dam levels in the Northern Cape are estimated at 86.8%.

Klerkskraal and Potchefstroom Dams in the North West are at full capacity with.4 and 100.8% respectively, while the situation remains dire in regions such as Madibeng, Ngaka Modiri, and Madibogo.

While there is not a single dam that has recorded 100% capacity in KwaZulu-Natal, the water situation is satisfactory. The average dam level in the province is currently at 63.3%, a slight drop of 2% compared to the same period last year.

Limpopo has recorded only four dams that are full to capacity. The province has thus far managed to store 929.1 cubic meters of water on a capacity of 1 522.3 cubic meters.

Intervention in Makhanda continues 

Meanwhile, the department said it continues to intervene in the water situation in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, which has been affected by acute water shortage in the past months.

Although the town depends largely on groundwater at the moment, the department said it is busy refurbishing the multimillion-rand James Kleynhans Water Treatment Plant that supplies water to Makhanda.

“A total of R64 million has been spent to complete Phase One of the project and R78 million has been allocated for Phase Two. The four-phased project will be completed in June 2021 at a cost of R237 million,” the department said.

The department appeals to water consumers to continue with their water-saving habits that have contributed immensely to the storage of water throughout the country.

(With Inputs from South African Government Press Release)