Dam levels
SA’s dam levels likely to soar over 55% in run-up to Christmas - DWS
The department said there had been a significant improvement in at least seven provinces including Gauteng, which recorded water levels at 96% while the Eastern...
For the first time in years, dams have reached a 100% capacity following good rainfall during winter.
The department said the Vaal Dam levels have been declining since April and no rainfall yet is exacerbating the situation.
Last week, the minister launched the master plan, to ensure the security of water supply.
City of Cape Town water and waste Mayco member Xanthea Limberg said the meeting would be held at the end of November, where the department was expected to present their modeling for the region's next hydrological year.
Last week, the city appealed to residents in areas, including Laudium and Atteridgeville, to use water sparingly after Rand Water reduced supply in Gauteng as a result of rapidly declining levels in the Vaal Dam.
Local Government MEC spokesperson James-Brent Styan said the dire drought conditions in the Karoo would be monitored.
The Water and Sanitation Department is concerned about levels which it said were plummeting weekly.
The Department of Water and Sanitation said dam levels in the Vaal River was much lower than they were the same time last year.
Figures released this week show a decline in levels around the country due to the winter season.
The total average level for dams across the province was 61.2 %, the best level since 2015.
The biggest dam in the province, the Theewaterskloof Dam, increased by 8.6% since last week bringing the levels up to a healthy 61.7%.
Parts of the province received heavy rains during at least three cold fronts in recent weeks.
The province’s dam levels are rippling at 33% compared to 16% this time last year.
The Beaufort West Municipality said three reservoirs were in good positions at 56%, 72% and 46% capacity.
Dam levels for the province have been recorded at 39.8% this week, about 20% higher than the same time last year.
This time last year, residents were being constantly warned of so-called day zero, the day when the city's taps would run dry.
The levels are looking much better compared to the same time last year when levels were sitting at 24%.
In July 2018, the municipality declared a local state of disaster due to water shortages as the Raubenheimer Dam level was at 30.7%. However, the dam level currently sits at an encouraging 54%.