KZN facing worst drought since 1982

Have seen a few reports that are warning about strong winds this afternoon and possibly a fair bit of rain...
 
ToxicBunny said:
Very interesting, didn't know about that....

The problem for the water system now is its scale... small catchment dams will actually not solve anything because the water still needs to be treated and then injected into the distribution system..
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Shush, I could walk down the road and do some daily fishing :D
 

Durban's biggest dam only 20% full


Water in Durban's biggest storage dam has dropped to the lowest level in more than 20 years.

The water level in Albert Falls dam, the biggest water storage dam in the Durban-Pietermaritzburg region, has shrunk to just 20% - despite recent heavy rains along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline.

Albert Falls is one of five dams and one weir that make up the combined Mgeni system that supplies water to at least 5million people in the Durban-Pietermaritzburg region.

With a storage capacity of more than 290million cubic metres of water, Albert Falls is the single biggest dam in the Mgeni system, storing one-third of the system's total water.

Umgeni Water spokesman Shami Harrichunder said latest readings show that water storage levels are: Albert Falls 20%, Inanda 59%, Midmar 74%, Spring Grove 76%, Nagle 68% and Mearns 52%.

Although the combined water storage capacity of the Mgeni dams system has reached about 54%, Umgeni requires storage levels to reach 75% to meet normal demand.
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More at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2017-11-27-durbans-biggest-dam--only-20-full/
 
Albert Falls Dam levels on a decline

Durban - Residents who rely on the Albert Falls Dam for their water supply could be without water come February next year as water levels have now reached 20 percent% capacity, posing the risk of a partial drought with long-term effects.

The Albert Falls Dam supplies areas such as Durban North, uMhlanga, Verulam, KwaMashu, Ntuzuma, Newlands, Westville, Reservoir Hills, KwaDabeka, Clermont, Pinetown, Queensburgh, Chatsworth, uMlazi and parts of Folweni.

Shami Harichunder, Umgeni Water spokesperson, said Umgeni Water was a fully integrated system, meaning that the five dams and a weir in it support, augment or supplement the resources of one another through transfers.

He further said the amount of water distributed daily to the eThekwini, Msunduzi and uMgungundlovu municipalities daily depended on the combined amount of water resources available.

“At the most recent calculation, the combined water resources in storage amounted to 50 percent%. Combined water resources required to meet the full demand of these Water Services Authorities – ie unrestricted supply and use – is at least 75 percent%,” said Harichunder.

“At times of water shortages, as is currently the case in the Umgeni system, reduction in portable water production and reduction in demand by Water Services Authorities are the most effective strategies to ensure that water available lasts until the system reaches an acceptable operational level again of a minimum of 75 percent%,” he said.

When are water restrictions likely to be lifted?

“The entire system has to reach at least 75 percent% before easing or lifting of restrictions becomes a serious consideration. It is important to note that if restrictions were not implemented, Albert Falls Dam would have reached dead storage by now and accompanying difficulties of water shortages exacerbated,” he explained Harichunder.

“Umgeni Water has reduced potable water production by 15 percent %, and restrictions of 15 percent% are currently being implemented in parts of eThekwini, all of Msunduzi and all of uMgungundlovu. These restrictions will remain, including during the coming festive season,” he said.

“If sufficient rains do not occur to improve the level of Albert Falls Dam, release from Midmar will be discussed in order to stabilise the situation. Releases from Midmar will have to be accompanied by water transfer from Spring Grove Dam to stabilise the level of Midmar. No deterioration has been noticed yet in the quality of Albert Falls water. However, deterioration could occur if this dam reaches 15 percen%. As stated, poor water quality results in increased cost of treatment,” said Harichunder.

Tozi Mthethwa, eThekwini Municipality’s head of communications, said the city had put measures in place to help avoid a possible water crisis which could see residents whose water supply comes from the Albert Falls Dam go without water.
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More at: https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/albert-falls-dam-levels-on-a-decline-12205747
 
Durban: calls for stricter water rationing

Albert Falls Dam’s lowest recorded levels in 22 years – confirmed at 19.3% by authorities on Tuesday – have prompted a call for stricter water-saving measures.

The eThekwini municipality said on Tuesday that the recent “welcomed rain” was insufficient to end the drought, with water levels in some dams still critically low.

“The current drought situation has worsened resulting in the level of Albert Falls Dam dropping further. The current demand of water from this system is exceeding the supply. The city is appealing to residents to reduce water demand by 15%,” it said in a statement.
Various outer lying reservoirs were being shut at night to build up storage for the following day to meet the targeted savings.
“Affected areas are those supplied by the Durban Heights system which includes areas in the North, South, Central and Western regions.”
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More at: https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-af...n-calls-for-stricter-water-rationing-12480520
 
Mooi/Mgeni System Albert Falls Dam 290.1 19.35 4.68 0.3 20 Dec 2017
Inanda Dam 251.6 62.85 0.54 0.1 20 Dec 2017
Mearns Dam 5.11 78.95 1.0 20 Dec 2017
Midmar Dam 235.4 79.14 0.31 1.0 20 Dec 2017
Nagle Dam 24.6 85.14 1.0 20 Dec 2017
Spring Grove Dam 139.5 73.26 0.56 0.0 20 Dec 2017
North Coast System Hazelmere Dam 37.133 63.92 4.44 1.6 20 Dec 2017
Other (Inland) Henley Dam 1.52 102.23 1.4 20 Dec 2017
Ixopo Dam 0.56 107.39 0.0 20 Dec 2017


One dam is empty. The rest are looking pretty healthy.
I dont understand ..
 
The last story I heard was the overflow from Midmar goes into Albert Falls but it's still dodgy that only one dam is so low.
 
Water restrictions continue in KZN


Durban – While the Western Cape precariously battles its drought woes, water restrictions in parts of KwaZulu-Natal quietly continue unabated.

Bulk water supplier Umgeni Water on Friday said a Joint Organising Committee (JOC) for the Mgeni System – one of the most vital water systems in the province – had resolved that a 15% water restriction would remain in place.

The Mgeni system comprises Mearns Weir, Spring Grove Dam, Midmar Dam, Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda dams.

Umgeni Water spokesperson Shami Harichunder said the JOC had decided that, while good rains in Midmar Dam’s catchments had improved the level of this dam significantly, the system in its totality was still short of a target of 70% before restrictions could be eased or removed.
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More at : https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/water-restrictions-continue-in-kzn-20180209
 
Mooi/Mgeni System
Albert Falls Dam 290.1 22.9 1.19 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Inanda Dam 251.6 62.76 0.54 2.0 12 Feb 2018
Mearns Dam 5.11 100.53 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Midmar Dam 235.4 95.48 0.31 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Nagle Dam 24.6 68.2 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Spring Grove Dam 139.5 88.27 0.56 0.0 12 Feb 2018
North Coast System Hazelmere Dam 37.133 60.26 0.2 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Other (Inland) Henley Dam 1.52 101.0 0.0 12 Feb 2018
Ixopo Dam 0.56 103.78 0.0 12 Feb 2018
 
For Albert Falls to fill, midmar would have to pump up. It's low because they're pushing to fill the lower dams which are pretty much at capacity now so hopefully it will start filling too.
 
Midmar over flow goes to the Albert Falls dam, so presumably when Midmar overflows, Albert falls will fill up.
 
Some of these dams are at their highest in years. It's shocking that the Water Department allowed Albert Falls drop so low.
 
Fox1 said:
Some of these dams are at their highest in years. It's shocking that the Water Department allowed Albert Falls drop so low.
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What should they have done? More severe water restrictions? More rain dances?? The fact is it is better to store the water in the Midmar dam than to release it downstream in to the Albert Falls dam. The complete system has to be looked at and then the statistics say that the water restrictions must remain in place.
 
Some windbag on ECR news this morning was saying all umgani water users need to reduce consumption by 15% to avoid "our own day zero in" 2 or 3 years... um how about you guys actually do something to increase the water supply/ storage.

Population will grow, the plan can't be to just reduce usage.
 
Eniigma said:
Some windbag on ECR news this morning was saying all umgani water users need to reduce consumption by 15% to avoid "our own day zero in" 2 or 3 years... um how about you guys actually do something to increase the water supply/ storage.

Population will grow, the plan can't be to just reduce usage.
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Ummm just for reference, they are doing lots but there is only so much they can do in a water scarce country like ours...

People have to become more aware of how the use water, its just the reality of the world we live in.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Ummm just for reference, they are doing lots but there is only so much they can do in a water scarce country like ours...

People have to become more aware of how the use water, its just the reality of the world we live in.
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All true but the amount of times one sees burst pipes etc and running water in the street, sickens me. The infrastructure is old, they could save a lot by fixing it and maintaining properly.
 
Kosmik said:
All true but the amount of times one sees burst pipes etc and running water in the street, sickens me. The infrastructure is old, they could save a lot by fixing it and maintaining properly.
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No questions on that front...

I will say that eThekwini at least does seem to be trying to get on top of the water infrastructure problem...
 
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