Heatwave pushes Vaal Dam level to below half for first time in three years
The hot and windy heatwave coupled with a lack of rain in Gauteng is contributing to the rapid decline in the level of the Vaal Dam.
The city of Johannesburg said on Monday the dam's levels had fallen below 50% for the first time in nearly three years.
VBHydrology and Gauteng Weather tweeted that the dam was only 49.64% full.
Residents are being urged to use water sparingly.
The department of water affairs said last week that the Vaal Dam, which is one of the critical dams in the Integrated Vaal River System, was at 51.5%, down from 53% the previous week.
At the same time last year, the dam was more than 86% full.
"Gauteng province is presently experiencing high temperatures (with maximums of about 30ºC) and this situation is compounded by the slight rainfalls which are scarce and far apart. Another contributory factor is the shutdown of the Lesotho Highlands Water tunnel for two months for maintenance (until the end of November)," the department said.
In contrast, the Sterkfontein Dam was holding steady at just over 90%, the department said. The Bloemhof Dam was also in a healthy state at 84%.
⚠️BREAKING
— SA Weather🌩️sawx.co.za (@sawx_sa_weather) October 21, 2019
Vaal Dam now below the 50% mark
Source: https://t.co/DzABO9Q2Xq #VaalDam pic.twitter.com/muim63PKwj
Mon 21 Oct. Vaal Dam Level 17.53m. Full 49.64%. Inflow 0.18m3/s. Discharge 17.6m3/s. River Valves Open 2x100%. Gates Open 0.
— VBHydrology (@VBHydrology) October 21, 2019
#JoburgUpdates
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) October 21, 2019
JUST IN: VAAL DAM PLUMMETS TO BELOW 50% FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 3 YEARS! #SaveWater #SaveTheLastDrop 💧 ^GZ pic.twitter.com/G25ztiALdp
🔴 BREAKING: VAAL DAM PLUMMETS TO BELOW 50% FULL for the FIRST TIME IN NEARLY 3 YEARS!
— Gauteng Weather (@tWeatherSA) October 21, 2019
🌊Current dam level: 49.64%
🔻💧Level fast dropping due to persistent heatwave!
⚠️ The time to act is now! 🇿🇦 is a water scarce country, ALWAYS SAVE WATER!
In the Western Cape the latest average dam level for the province is 64%, and 79% for major dams supplying Cape Town.
The situation in the interior of the province, including in the Karoo and particularly in the agriculture sector, remains serious and continues to be monitored, said the province.
MORE
South Africa Sewage pushes E.coli levels in Vaal to dangerous levels, environmental group says 4 years ago |