Vaal dam water

Flowing dam water levels. Image: pexels.com

Gauteng dam levels: Water restrictions due to dropping Vaal Dam levels

Level 1 restrictions set on Gauteng residents amid drops in dam levels.

Vaal dam water

Flowing dam water levels. Image: pexels.com

The Gauteng Vaal Dam’s levels have dropped calling for more rain in the province. The dam hit a mark below 55% on 30 September 2019.

Vaal Dam’s actual levels

Vaal Dam
An aerial shot of the Vaal Dam. Photo: Department of Water Affairs

The Vaal Dam is currently sitting below 55% with the actual percentage reaching only 54.87%. The dip has caused the province to find ways of conserving water.

Gauteng officially placed a Level 1 restriction and everyone is expected to play their part if we want to retain water. Residents should take heed of the drought situation the Western Cape found themselves in recently.

What the restriction means for residents

Water restrictions set in Gauteng. Photo: Twitter/tWeatherSA

The restriction meant residents weren’t allowed to wash paved areas or driveways using a hosepipe. To try and conserve water people are also requested to not water their gardens from 6:00 to 18:00.

The restriction went in place on 1 September 2019 and will stay so until 31 March 2020.

Vaal Barrage Dam statistics

On 25 September 2019, the statistics given for the Vaal Barrage Dam were:

  • Barrage Level at 07h00 (m): 7.60
  • Flow at 07h00 (m3 s): 15.203
  • Average flow, day before (m3/s): 12.670
  • Minimum flow, day before(m3/s): 10.120
  • Maximum flow, day before (m3/s): 15.203
  • Rainfall, day before (mm): 0.0
  • Evaporation (mm): 6.0
  • Conductivity (mS/cm): 78.6
  • Lethabo River level (m): 2.78
  • Number of gates open: 1
  • Inches: 1×9″

Other Gauteng dam levels

All the other dams appear to doing much better.

Sterkfontein Dam: Percentage: 92.2%.

Grootdraai Dam: Percentage: 64.9%.

Bloemhof Dam: Percentage: 98.2%.

The Vaal Dam water levels have been steadily decreasing over the past months. In 2018, when the dam was measured it sat on 97.5% water-level compared to now.

Sasol and Eskom could be badly affected by low dam levels

The dam is a major contributor to part of the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS). It is also the water supply to Gauteng industries that include, Sasol, and Eskom amongst others.

In order to churn out electricity, Eskom needs a continuous supply of water from the dam. If residents do not adhere to the plea to conserve water usage, the power utility could face more problems.

The last time the Gauteng province was gripped in drought was in 2016. The Gauteng area hasn’t seen rain for a while and if the restriction is to be lifted, some major showers need to come our way.