Vaal Dam plunges to 2017 levels
The Department of Water and Sanitation says Vaal Dam levels have plummeted to levels unseen since the beginning of 2017, when large parts of the country were in the grip of a devastating drought.
The department’s Sputnik Ratau says the levels of the Vaal Dam has continued to drop due to the lack of rain during the winter.
“It now hovers at distressing levels of 37.6%, down from 38.8% last week. During the comparative period last year, the dam stood at reasonably stable levels of 59.9%.”
There is some good news, however, when it comes to the levels of the Grootdraai and Sterkfontein dams in the Free State.
“From 79.4% last week to 78.9%, the Grootdraai Dam has taken a knock this week. However, the present levels of the dam remain higher when compared to the 61.7% at which it stood during the same week last year.
“The Sterkfontein Dam held on to 93.9% for a second successive week and is higher compared with the levels of 92.0% at the same period last year.”
LISTEN TO SPUTNIK RATAU HERE:
The hope is that good summer rainfall will see an uptick in the Vaal Dam levels, says Ratau.
“The department wishes to emphasise that it will take time for dams such as the Vaal Dam to be replenished by the summer rainfall that are expected, given the fact that South Africa experiences one of the most erratic weather conditions.
“Water consumers are urged not to let the guard down but to continue working with their local municipalities to ensure that every drop of water is saved.”
