Teboho Setena
Several water storage dams in the Free State significant in providing water to communities are full to capacity, while others have been seen overflowing – thanks to the recent much-needed rainfalls.
The constant rainfall that filled these dams also forced the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to open floodgates.
The total capacity being available in the province’s dams translates to 109,9%, while at this time last year it was 87,0%.
Surprisingly, the Groothoek Dam and Rustfontein Dam are however far from capacity. Groothoek, of which the source is the Kgabanyane River, and Rustfontein, with its source being the Modder River, stood at 60,1% and 70,2% respectively, according to the DWS.
These two dams supply Thaba Nchu and Botshabelo, which form part of the Mangaung Metro Municipality.
The other dam not full to its capacity, but in a highly satisfactory state, is the Welbedacht Dam on the Caledon River – at 95,1%.
This is one of the important dams to the Mangaung Metro in terms of supplying water.
The dams that have exceeded the 100% mark include the following:
■ Gariep (111,6%);
■ Bloemhof (117,0%);
■ Vaal (119,2%);
■ Vanderkloof (108,2%);
■ Koppies (109,1%);
■ Kalkfontein (106,3%); and
■ Krugersdrift (105,3%).
The levels of other dams are reportedly hovering between 101,0% and 103,7%.
The water level of the Tierpoort Dam, primarily used for irrigation purposes for agriculture, is currently at 103,2%.
