‘Dams across SA could take 5 years to refill’

Southern Africa has been affected by a severe drought that prompted water restrictions by various municipalities.

FILE: As residents from Senekal in the Free State battle the worst drought in years, a humanitarian organisation has distributed more than a hundred thousand litres of water to the community. Picture: Operation Hydrate Initiative SA/Facebook.

Tara Penny | 1817 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - The Water Department is warning the country's dams could take up to five years to recover, even if the country experiences normal rainfall following the drought.

Southern Africa has been affected by a severe drought that prompted water restrictions by various municipalities, which have warned that water could be rationed if consumers fail to heed calls to cut consumption.

Not sure what level 3 water restrictions mean for you? Find out here https://t.co/c4Qu1Cz4ed #CTInfo pic.twitter.com/nIPe3n51at
— City of Cape Town (@CityofCT) November 1, 2016

LISTEN: Joburg councillor Anthony Still on the city's water restrictions

Public Announcement from @jhbwater: Daily water supply system status updates. #SaveWater ^LM pic.twitter.com/2GYMwlbOpk
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) November 1, 2016

The department says eight percent of rainfall water is captured in dams, with most of it being lost to evaporation, transpiration and replenishing ground water.

Parts of Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo have experienced heatwave conditions in recent days.

(Edited by Zamangwane Shange)