Eastern Cape dam levels rise thanks to longed-for rain

The much-welcomed recent rains that fell in parts of the Eastern Cape were a shot in the arm for the province’s dwindling water levels, which had lingered at around 50% due to a lack of rainfall. 

Provincial water levels received a considerable boost, improving significantly from 50.8% to well over 75%, with more thunderstorms expected in the interior.

The Amathole water supply system — with dams supplying water to Buffalo City Metro and Amathole district municipality — which three weeks ago remained low, has improved significantly.   

Nahoon Dam, which was at 33.4% last week, is now at 42.43%. Rooikrantz Dam, which was sitting 85.0% last week, is now overflowing at 100.47%, while Gcuwa Dam, which sat at 55.5% last week, is also at 100% and the Laing Dam, at 100%, is now at 100.76%. 

Mthatha Dam is also overflowing at 102.41%, Mabheleni Dam, which was at 96.8% last week, is now at 99% and Nqadu Dam jumped from 87.6% to 92.03%.

Despite this, department of water affairs & sanitation spokesperson Sputnik Ratau reminded BCM residents that SA remained a water scarce country and more effort was needed to encourage a culture of saving water.

He said that nationwide, last week’s report showed that water stored in the country’s reservoirs was at 88.7%, up from 84.6 a week before. 

“While nationally the picture looks good, the department is aware of communities facing water shortages due to various challenges faced by water service authorities serving them.”

Ratau said one major system in the province, the Algoa Water Supply System with five dams supplying water to Nelson Mandela Bay and surrounding areas, were still struggling to recover at 17.9% last week but this week that changed drastically as the rains continued to bless the drought-stricken province. 

According to SA Weather forecaster Kgoloselo Mahlangu, as from Sunday local areas had recorded the highest rainfall in the province. Komani received 25mm of rain while Barkley East received 12mm, and Jamestown also got a shot in the arm with 10mm of rainfall. 

On Monday, the Bridle Drift Dam outside East London received a whopping 59mm, while Addo Elephant Park received 31mm of rain and Bhisho 29mm. Somerset East got 26mm, Ngqura 21mm, and Port Alfred 21mm, Tsitsikama 22mm and Makhanda got 21mm. Mahlangu said more rainfall was forecast for the coming days. 

“There were severe thunderstorms and hail and they brought significant amounts of rain to the province. There are storms all over the Eastern Cape interior.

“In areas like Graaf Reinet, Maletswai, Matatilele, Qonce and Mthatha there will be more rain because of storms brewing in the interior,” said Mahlangu. 

According to the provincial department of water & sanitation, Kouga Dam recorded 15.6% last week but as of this week it was at 16.48%, while the Groendal Dam was at 24.6% and jumped to 27.17%. The Impofu had been sitting at 15.7% and was now at 15.59%.

The Klipplaat Water Supply System with dams supplying water to Chris Hani District has improved. Tsojana Dam is sitting at 100% this week compared to 96.5% last week, Macubeni Dam is now 100% from 84% and Waterdown Dam has improved from 45.0% last week to 100%. Bridle Drift Dam is now at 22.44% while Sandile Dam remains 85.45%. 

Xilinxa and Debe Dams are still among the lowest dams in the province at 10% and 11% respectively. 

Dumisani Fadana, marketing director of Umtiza Farmers’ Corporation, said farmers who wanted to plant maize crops were now stuck because the land was waterlogged, and those who planted crops before the rains commenced last month could not control weeds growing on their plantations as a result of the excessive water. But he said not all was doom and gloom. 

“Some plantations are overgrown with weeds now, unless a farmer uses chemicals to control weeds. For instance I have not planted on all my land. And now I can’t access those parts and conduct soil preparation because it is wet,” said Fadana. 

He said livestock farmers would benefit the most from the rains as the grass was growing significantly. 

“This is the rain we have been praying for because in the past three years we have never seen rains like these. It is still going to rain while the land is waterlogged, and it is going be difficult because even in January it looks like it will rain. And now land with poor drainage will have problems because it will take time for the water to go down,” said Fadana. 

DispatchLIVE