Rand Water has urged water consumers within its area of supply to use water sparingly.
Rand Water Media Relations Manager, Justice Mohale, said due to technical challenges, the capacity at one of the main engine rooms has been reduced by 20%.
“With temperatures expected to increase from [Thursday] throughout our area of supply, we appeal to consumers to use water wisely, as doing so will assist in alleviating pressure on the reduced capacity,” Mohale said.
He said the engine room is estimated to be restored to its normal operating capacity within the next few days.
Thumbs up for Gauteng dams
Meanwhile, a weekly dam levels report by the Department of Water and Sanitation has given Gauteng the thumbs-up for recording a whopping 97.7% at the beginning of the week, followed by Free State at 88.6%.
“The two provinces experienced heavy downpours last weekend and they are poised for higher levels with the predicted showers at the end of the week,” the department said.
Even though the situation is better than the same period last year when the country experienced a devastating drought, South Africa’s dam levels have decreased fractionally from 75.3% to 74.5% this week.
Wet weekend for Gauteng and Western Cape
The South African Weather Service predicts a wet weekend in Gauteng and thunderstorms in parts of Western Cape that, until recently were affected by the worst drought in 100 years.
According to the report, Western Cape levels have risen to 76% at the beginning of the week and are expected to reach higher levels after the predicted showers this weekend.
Theewaterskloof and Voelsvlei dams, both of which feed Cape Town, have recorded 96.3% and 95.3% respectively.
In KwaZulu-Natal, dam levels have decreased from 60.7% last week to 60.4% this week. The Umgeni Dam System in KwaZulu-Natal, with five dams serving eThekwini and uMsunduzi in Pietermaritzburg, has decreased from 69.4% last week to 68.8%.
Midmar Dam has increased from 95.2% to 95.3%, Albert Falls is at 46.2% and Inanda decreased from 66.8% to 66.3%.
In Mpumalanga, dam levels have decreased from 73.2% to 72.2% this week. The Witbank is at 94.7%, Ohrigstad at 12% and Blyderivierpoort at 63.2%.
In the Eastern Cape, the Algoa System, with five dams serving Nelson Mandela Bay, is currently at 54.2%, up from 53.1%. Last year at the same time, the system was at 30.8%.
Kouga has increased from 50.9% to 52.9%, Impofu increased from 37.7% to 38.3%. Haarlem has increased from 91.8% to 95.3%, whilst Groendal increased from 62.6% to 62.7%.
The Amathole System, with six dams serving Buffalo City has decreased from 80.1% to 79.5%. At the same time last year, the system was at 60.3%.
Vaal Dam has decreased from 88.5% to 87.4%. The Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) has also decreased from 79.1 to 78.4%. The system was at 74.4% in the same period last year.
Nwanedzi Dam in Limpopo has registered 72.4%, while Nandoni and Modjadji are at 96.6% and 10.2% respectively.
The Bloemfontein System, with four dams serving mainly Mangaung, has decreased from 65.7% to 64.9%. The system was at 37.4% during the same time last year.
In the North West, Molatedi is at 28.9%, a slight decrease from 29.5% last week. The Crocodile West System, which has six dams serving mainly Tshwane, Madibeng and Rustenburg, is currently at 76.3%, down from 79.5%.
The Northern Cape has decreased from 85.9% last week to 82.7% this week. Karee in the Northern Cape has also decreased by a fraction, from 61. 9% to 61.1%. Last year at the same time, it was at 1.2%. – SAnews.gov.za
