Major reservoirs in the Free State are at healthy levels.
If used wisely, water supply will be sufficient to see consumers through the winter months.
According to the weekly report issued by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), major dams in the province are at full capacity thanks to ongoing rainfall.
Heavy rains have seen the sluice gates of some dams opened as water levels rise and feeder rivers continue to flow strongly.
It is estimated that the collective level of the 21 storage dams in the province exceeds 100%. At the same time last year, the level stood at 97,7%.
According to the department’s weekly report, only four dams in the Free State are currently below 100%.
These are the Vaal River Barrage Reservoir (96,5%), the Kalkfontein Dam (98,2%), the Knellpoort Dam (95,3%) and the Groothoek Dam (98,5%).
By mid-December, the levels of these dams were below 80%, while the Rustfontein Dam, which supplies water to Bloemfontein, was at 71,5%.
Meanwhile, though the the Welbedacht Dam is at full capacity, the department indicated that the dam had silted up.
The province’s dam levels have improved drastically over the last few years.
It is estimated that the collective level of the 21 storage dams in the province exceeds 100%
