Johannesburg water crisis persist. Image: iStock
Water restrictions are LIFTED in these sub-systems
Water restrictions on the Kouga/Loerie Sub-System and Groendal Sub-System have been lifted, due to improved storage levels in the dams.
Johannesburg water crisis persist. Image: iStock
The Department of Water and Sanitation has lifted the water restrictions on the Kouga/Loerie Sub-System and Groendal Sub-System due to improved storage levels in the dams.
The department said the recent rainfall has significantly relieved the prolonged period of drought experienced in the Algoa Bay region, with a significant recovery in dam levels to the extent that Kouga Dam recorded its first spilling since 2015.
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Water restrictions lifted in which province
It also announced the lifting of water restrictions for some sub-systems in the Algoa Water Supply System in the Eastern Cape.
“This catchment is of strategic importance to the western parts of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Kouga Local Municipality as well as the agricultural sector in the Gamtoos Valley,” the department said.
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The Algoa Water Supply System recorded an accumulative storage level of only 13.3% in week 19 (15 May 2023), with Kouga Dam at 14.57%, Churchill Dam at 24.4%, Groendal Dam at 17.03%, and Impofu Dam at 6.79%, according to the department report.
“The latest records of this system’s recovery show that the accumulative storage has reached 70%, with Kouga Dam at 101.42%, Churchill Dam at 100.93%, Groendal Dam at 101%, and Impofu Dam at 24.37%. It is anticipated that Impofu Dam’s levels will increase over the next few days since it will benefit from the spilling from Churchill Dam,” said the Department.
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Reviewed restrictions are as follows:
The water restriction on the Kouga/Loerie Sub-System and Groendal Sub-System has been lifted due to improved storage levels in these dams, up until the next decision date (November 2023).
Restrictions in the Kromme Sub-System, comprising of Churchill and Impofu dams and upstream catchment remain in place until the next decision date (November 2023).
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The department emphasised that water users are required to continue using water responsibly and not to exceed water use abstraction allocation volumes.
What is the public encouraged to do?
It also encouraged the general public to continue saving water and report water leaks.
“The Algoa water supply system is still under threat of a growing demand that exceeds the yield, which implies that consumption levels are higher than the natural replenishing ability of the water resource system. The sensitive nature of this water supply system demands the cooperation of the collective community dependent on this water resource, to continue using water sparingly,” the department said.
