KZN facing worst drought since 1982

Water restrictions lifted for eThekwini north coast

Durban – After more than two years of below-average rainfall, water restrictions will be lifted for the eThekwini North Coast, Umgeni Water said on Thursday.

Restrictions would immediately be lifted for Waterloo, Verulam, Ottawa, Umdloti Beach, Sibaya Casino, La Mercy, Westbrook, Canelands, Ndwedwe, King Shaka Airport and Tongaat, spokesperson Shami Harichunder said.

The lifting of individual water restrictors would commence.

There was, at present, enough water to meet the demands of eThekwini Metro, Sembcorp Siza Water and iLembe District Municipality.

In July and August, unseasonal rainfall of about 180mm was recorded at Hazelmere Dam. This resulted in the level of the dam rising steadily to its current 62%.

A risk analysis discounted the possibility of dam failure in the foreseeable future.

Over the past 30 months, persistent below-average rainfall was recorded at Hazelmere Dam and its catchments.

Harichunder said the entire Umgeni Water operational area was caught in a drought that developed into one of the worst in three decades as the El Nino phenomenon tightened its grip.

“This resulted in major dams operated by Umgeni Water remaining at levels lower than they had been at in previous years.”

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/water-restrictions-lifted-for-ethekwini-north-coast-20160901
 
Hazelmere Dam wall construction falls behind

Unexpected challenges have set back the raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall by six months, the department of water and sanitation (DWS) reported.

Initially scheduled for completion in June 2017, the end date has been pushed out to December.

“There have been problems with rock anchors as well as the grouting,” said the department’s Mahaye Mbalenhle.

The raising of the Hazelmere Dam wall is part of an intervention developed by the DWS after it commissioned a feasibility study which indicated the current yield’s insufficiency to meet the growing demands of supply in the North Coast region.

The project to raise the Hazelmere Dam wall includes the installation of gates on the dam’s spillway and the stabilisation of the wall.

The dam will be increased by seven metres to raise capacity from about 17.7 million m3 to 37 million m3 .

This will increase capacity by approximately 109% (more than double the previous capacity).
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More at: http://northcoastcourier.co.za/68228/hazelmere-dam-wall-construction-falls-behind/
 
I was at Nagle dam about a two weeks ago at day of the clubs .
aaaaa.jpg

It was quite low .
 
Rains are filling up the dams

Durban - KwaZulu-Natal dams have recorded remarkable recoveries in water levels as a result of steady rainfall around the province.

But, while the week’s rainfall has offered some relief - and even helped to lift water restrictions on those supplied by the Hazelmere Dam - those in drought-stricken areas are not out of the woods.

Authorities said while some dams recorded dramatic increases, the amount of rainfall remained below average.

Corporate stakeholder manager at Umgeni Water, Shami Hari-chunder, said the situation in the Hazelmere system had returned to normal after a two-year drought and stringent water restrictions.

The dam levels stood at around 40% in May.

“Following good rains from July to the present, the dam has risen to 70%, as at yesterday. All water restrictions in the supply area of Hazelmere Water Treatment Plant have been lifted. The areas affected are Verulam, Waterloo, Ballito, Umhlali, parts of Ndwedwe, Sea Tides and La Mercy.”

But he cautioned that much of the torrential rains had occurred in areas outside catchment areas.
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More at: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/rains-are-filling-up-the-dams-2089881
 
Ho3n3r said:
Where are they getting filled from, as it's not raining anywhere lately?
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Water restrictions and very minimal amount of outflow into the rivers.

After Saturdays storm, I was expecting a significant jump in some of the dams but, see for yourselves.
Untitled.jpg
 
Uzail said:
Water restrictions and very minimal amount of outflow into the rivers.

After Saturdays storm, I was expecting a significant jump in some of the dams but, see for yourselves.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately Saturdays storm was predominantly on the coast so not into the catchment areas for the dams...
 
Please save water was the call from Municipal spokesperson, Mdu Ncalane

http://zululandobserver.co.za/131873/city-implements-90-water-restrictions/

THE City of uMhlathuze municipality has announced it will implement 90% water restrictions 24/7 for the foreseeable future due to a dwindling water supply.



This after the City issued a call for residents and holiday makers to spare as much water as possible over the festive season as crippling effect of the ongoing drought.

‘We must emphasise that there won’t be any water cuts, simply restrictions,’ said spokesman for the City, Mdu Ncalane.

He advised that existing water cut prohibitions would apply – such as not using hose pipes, no washing of cars and no filling of swimming pools.

‘We will also cut the number of showers at Alkantstrand down to three, of which the water pressure will be reduced.’

The City has asked that residents and holidaymakers adhere to the call, as the main supply for the City, Goedertrouw Dam was at a mere 19%.

We recognise the fact that its summer and the weather can on some days be extremely hot, hence the need to spend time in water,’ said City Mayor, Mdu Mhlongo.

‘Especially those who have swimming pools. We urge all citizens and visitors to make use of our beaches nearer to them. Filling up swimming pools with drinkable water is discouraged at all costs as this is a waste of potable water,’ he said.

He also emphasised that watering of gardens, car washing and many other practices that waste water are discouraged.

‘We humbly plead with our visitors to heed this call as well as our hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and any other tourism attraction in our City to have water saving messages and urge their guests to use water sparingly.’

goedertrouw-520x400.jpg
 
KZN water supplies are far from secure

Durban – If KwaZulu-Natal doesn’t get above average rainfall in the next three months, the bid to bring our water supply back to normal will suffer a setback.

“For our dams to begin rising significantly, at least two seasons of above-average rainfall are required,” said Umgeni Water spokesman Shami Harichunder on Friday.

He said the next three months of the rainy season were crucial. He said that if above-average rainfall was not received, the water available in the Umgeni system would have to last until the next rainy season.

On Friday Midmar Dam was just over half full at 55 percent, its level having been raised with the help of an inflow from Spring Grove Dam.

Downstream, Umgeni Water’s other large dam stood at a miserable 27 percent.

“Water is normally transferred into Albert Falls from Midmar, but this has stopped because of inadequate water in Midmar,” Harichunder said.

“Midmar and Albert Falls dams will have to reach levels of 70 percent each to meet demand.”

This time last year Midmar stood at 48 percent and Albert Falls was at 40 percent.
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More at: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/kzn-water-supplies-are-far-from-secure-7302847
 
Threat of bigger water cuts in KZN

Durban – Large parts of eThekwini Municipality will again endure water cut-offs, after a brief reprieve over the festive season.

And it doesn’t end there – longer shut off hours, possibly from 7pm to 6am – are on the cards as residents are failing to conserve the 15% use as mandated by national government.

eThekwini Municipality said yesterday restrictions that had been lifted over the festive season because of the influx of tourists, had now been reintroduced as the level of Albert Falls Dam, near Pietermaritzburg, had dropped to 26.1%. Midmar Dam, near Howick, is around 58%.

Several reservoirs in the region had run dry and if residents did not heed warnings to use water sparingly, bigger cuts would be enforced.

Umgeni Water also laid bare the dire situation facing the province, with poor rains failing to fill up dams. It held a media briefing this week to spread the message that the effect of the drought was severe, and stricter measures to conserve water were needed, along with infrastructure development.
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More at: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/threat-of-bigger-water-cuts-in-kzn-7468515
 
MEC warns of further water restrictions in KZN

Durban – Drought-affected municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal should prepare for more severe water restrictions, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said on Thursday.

"We call on all KZN residents and business to familiarise themselves with the water restrictions and to comply, as at times these may be upgraded to higher levels as a way of ensuring that taps do not run dry," Dube-Ncube said.

She urged communities to co-operate with municipalities and told them to expect reduced water pressure.

"We must expect that water pressure will be reduced in almost all KZN municipalities. We must look out for leaks and report them immediately to municipalities," added Dube-Ncube.

She appealed to the agricultural sector to make preparations for the winter season and called on municipalities to publish water restrictions time schedules timeously.

Lesson learnt

"As government, we are continuing with our drought relief plan. We will be supplying more water tankers, drilling more boreholes, installing pipelines, water treatment works and desalination plants."

She went on to thank residents and businesses for adhering to existing water restrictions.

"We urge them to do so for a little while longer as the dry season approaches. We appreciate what has largely been model consumer behaviour on the part of the public," Dube-Ncube said.

She said that, based on the past experience, Cogta anticipated significantly lower levels of rainfall across the province.

Dube-Ncube said the drier conditions would mean that the province's depleted water reservoirs would not be adequately replenished.

"This longest drought in living memory has taught us the virtues of co-operation between various consumers of water services."

News24
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/mec-warns-of-further-water-restrictions-in-kzn-20170126
 
Its very definitely not looking good.

And I bloody put off the purchase of the JoJo's for this year cos I figured we would more than likely break the drought this rainy season :(
 
Years of good rains needed in KZN

Durban residents frustrated at water shut-offs would have to wait at least a few more months before they could see the end of dry taps, but it would take several years of good rains for dams to fully recover.

Umgeni Water spokesman, Shami Harichunder, said the drought still had a grip on the province, and dam levels were low.

“Our concern is that Albert Falls Dam is at 25% capacity. This dam feeds three municipalities, including eThekwini. These levels are very low and we need heavy rains. There isn’t sufficient water to meet the demand, and this is why we have water shut-offs. Midmar Dam, when full, overflows into Albert Falls.

“However, Midmar Dam itself is at 60%, and that level is also pumped from Spring Grove Dam, so essentially there is not enough water. For Albert Falls dam to reach capacity and put us in a better situation, we project that there needs to be three to four seasons of heavy rains,” said Harichunder.

This translates to three to four years of good rainfall.

Harichunder said that at the very least, water restrictions would be around for several more months.

Resources

“There will be no easing up until we get good rains over the catchment areas and the dams fill up. We need people to continue water conservation measures. We are sitting in a situation of inadequate water resources as a result of the drought and this affects us all,” he said.
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More at: http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/years-of-good-rains-needed-in-kzn-7710626
 
Seems there was decent rain around some of the dams during the weekend and some more on its way.
 
Way way too little still...

BUT, there is a tropical depression in the Mozambique Channel at the moment which is predicted to intensify to a Tropical Cyclone and continue a south-west course. It could at the very least give some good rains to the Kruger and Northern KZN...

Can but hope that if it does go that far it doesn't turn into another Domoina.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Way way too little still...

BUT, there is a tropical depression in the Mozambique Channel at the moment which is predicted to intensify to a Tropical Cyclone and continue a south-west course. It could at the very least give some good rains to the Kruger and Northern KZN...

Can but hope that if it does go that far it doesn't turn into another Domoina.
Click to expand...

Indeed, that is what i was referring to when i said more was on its way. I had just read this article , lets hope it hits the right areas without causing casualties.
 
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