Eastern Cape dams are drying up at an alarming rate and things could get even worse.
The coastal area, from George in the Western Cape to East London, is experiencing one of it warmest winters ever, according to the South African Weather Services (SAWS).
A report from the national water and sanitation department shows that the province’s dam levels are currently the lowest in the country.
The Amathole system, which supplies Buffalo City Metro areas, has dropped by roughly 0.6% this week compared to the same period last year.
The system’s best-performing dams by far are the Wriggleswade and Laing, sitting at 98.7 and 97.3%.
The Nahoon Dam, at 76.5% of it capacity, is the system’s worst performing dam.
The levels at the Algoa system, which supplies dams at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, were described by the department as perilous, with the system sitting at a frightening 19.3%.
The system’s best performing dam is the Loerie at 68.28%, while the worst performing is the Kouga Dam at 6.95%.
Garth Sampson, of SAWS, said: “July has been an exceptionally warm month over the region, with record-high average maximum temperatures.”
East London saw an average maximum temperature of 23.1°C in July, making it the third hottest on record.
The average minimum of 11°C was also higher than the norm, while the rainfall of 11.4mm was well below the norm of 43.4mm.
“The seasonal forecast for East London and surrounds shows below average rainfall right through to December,” said Sampson.
Port Elizabeth had its hottest July on record with an average maximum of 22.8°C.
“Furthermore, the average maximum temperature for the first two months of winter [June and July] were also the highest on record at 22.4°C.
“The excessive warmth can be attributed largely to the lack of clouds,” said Sampson.
He said Port Elizabeth’s rainfall for July was 31.4mm, a figure well below the 51mm recording in the same period last year.
“Going forward, the seasonal forecast for the Nelson Mandela Bay area and catchments shows a glimmer of hope for above-normal rainfall in August, which rapidly fizzles out to below normal for the rest of the year,” he said.
The province can put aside hopes that rainfall may help its low dam levels, with Sampson saying: “As far as rainfall is concerned, the below-average trend has persisted deep into winter, with little hope of an improving situation for the rest of the year.”..