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After heavy rain in September which resulted in the Kouga Dam spilling for the first time in eight years on September 29, the Department of Water and Sanitation has lifted the water restrictions on the Kouga-Loerie Sub-System.
Water restrictions on the Groendal Sub-System in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, have also been lifted.
In a statement released by the department on October 4, it said that the water restriction on these two sub-systems was lifted due to improved storage levels in these dams, up until the next decision date in November.
The statement further said that the recent rainfall brought significant relief from the protracted period of drought experienced in the Algoa Bay region, with a significant recovery in dam levels to the extent that the Kouga Dam recorded its first spilling since 2015.
“This catchment is of strategic importance to the western parts of Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Kouga Local Municipality as well as the agricultural sector in the Gamtoos Valley.”
The statement further said that on May 15, the Algoa Water Supply System recorded an accumulative storage level of only 13.3 percent with the Kouga Dam at 14.57 percent.
After heavy rain during the month of September, according to the Gamtoos Irrigation Board, today, October 6, there is 20 000 litres per second of water measured flowing over the Kouga Dam wall, 13 300 litres per second over the Stuurmanskraal, and 2 300 litres per second flowing in the Groot Rivier.
The current dam level is 100.89%.
The department’s statement further said that the their Water Resource Management Planning processes are based on hydrological trends, hence there will be continuous monitoring of the accumulation of rainfall-generated run-off throughout the remainder of the hydrological year (period of monitoring) in this catchment.
The statement further said that the climate experts warned that there are indicators of a strong El Niño developing which could coincide with warmer temperatures and lower rainfall across South Africa (CSIR, 2023).
“The full impact of the anticipated El Niño effect is not known hence the department’s hesitancy to confidently declare that the protracted drought period has ended. The analysis over a longer period will provide for a more accurate climate and hydrological trend. This analysis will enable a decision to be made in November regarding the annual restrictions to be imposed on the region.”
The statement said that in the meantime, the hydrological recovery of the Algoa water supply system has allowed the department to favourably consider the upliftment of the restrictions for the area.
“This relaxation of water use will contribute to the economic recovery in the domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors in the area.”
Despite the lifting of water restrictions on the Kouga-Loerie Sub-System and Groendal Sub-System, the department stated that the restrictions in the Kromme Sub-System, comprising of Churchill and Impofu dams and upstream catchment remain in place until the next decision date in November.
The department said that water users are however required to continue using water responsibly and not to exceed water use abstraction allocation volumes.
The public is also encouraged to continue conserving water and to report water leaks.
“The Algoa water supply system is still under threat of a growing demand that exceeds the yield, which implies that consumption levels are higher than the natural replenishing ability of the water resource system. The sensitive nature of this water supply system demands the cooperation of the collective community dependent on this water resource, to continue using water sparingly.”
Earlier today, October 6, the South African Weather Services predicted widespread rain within areas from East London to the Western Cape.
“Scattered to isolated showers and thundershowers are expected over the central and southern parts, with a widespread of rain expected to be along the south, southeast coast and the adjacent interior. Otherwise, fine and hot conditions,” the statement said.
As of October 6, according to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the dam levels for the remaining dams are as follows, Churchill – 100 percent, Impofu – 26.57 percent, Loerie – 100 percent and Groendal – 100 percent.
