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- The Kouga Dam has gradually decreased since October 1.
- The Kouga Dam water level decrease is not a concern as the annual water allocation remains in place.
- As of November 20, the Kouga Dam was at 100.09 percent.
Despite a gradual decrease in the water levels within the Kouga Dam, Rienette Colesky, CEO of Gamtoos Water Users’ Association, is not concerned, as they plan to continue keeping a close eye on water allocation while the dam fulfils its purpose of providing water for domestic and agricultural usage.
As previously reported by Kouga Express, after heavy rain during the month of September the Kouga Dam rose rapidly with the dam level rising from 62 percent on September 26, to overflowing just three days later, on September 29. This was the first time the dam has overflowed in eight years.
Thankfully, with the increase in dam levels, on October 4 the Department of Water and Sanitation announced that water restrictions on the Kouga-Loerie Sub-System had been lifted.
Colesky said that the Kouga Dam was at a maximum of 101.56 percent on October 1, after significant rain was received in the catchment areas.
She said that the dam levels have continued to decline since.
Colesky further said that the dam levels initially began to decline due to overflowing, not due to consumption.
She said that due to the heavy rain in September, the agricultural area in the Gamtoos was wet, and there was minimal water irrigation for agricultural purposes.
Despite the decline, Colesky said that there was no need for concern at this time, as the dam was there to supply water to the water users.
Colesky said,
Colesky said that they have managed the Kouga Dam very carefully for the past eight years, and will continue to do so going forward.
When asked about whether they are expecting an increase in consumption over the December holiday period, Colesky said that she is unable to comment on the consumption by holidaymakers visiting the area; however, she said that they only release what is allocated to water users annually, which includes 23 million cubic metres for domestic, and 60.188 million cubic metres for agricultural purposes.
“The level in the dam will be equal to what we plan to release out of the Kouga Dam, which will be a reflection of the allocation of water out of the dam,” said Colesky.
As of November 20, the Kouga Dam was at 100.09 percent, while the Loerie Dam was at 100.52 percent.
Stuurmanskraal, a measuring weir in the Kouga region, measured 1 240 litres per second, and 2 900 litres per second were being released out of the Kouga Dam.
