Steps being taken to avoid taps running dry
THE Misverstand Dam, near Moorreesburg in the Western Cape, could run out of water by April 24, says the Department of Water and Sanitation.
Spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the province was still faced with drought conditions as seen by deteriorating dam levels, coupled with high water consumption by households.
“The department will make a release of up to 5 million cubic metres of water from the Voëlvlei and Berg River dams.”
Water from the release, initiated from yesterday until Friday, was expected to reach the Misverstand Dam by April 24.
“Water will also be supplemented into the Berg River Dam through the emergency pumping scheme from the Theewaterskloof Dam, and should there be any significant rainfall resulting in runoff during the operation, the extent of the release will be revised,” said Ratau.
He said the river stretch from the Berg River Dam to the Misverstand Dam was about 138km and it would take an estimated seven days for the first water to reach the dam.
“It is also important to note that once the release starts, the Emergency Preparedness Plan will be initiated through disaster management centres, as there could be some localised flooding adjacent to the river.
“Communities must take necessary precautions during the release period,” said Ratau.
The City said the collective consumption over the past week was 542 million litres of water a day, up from an average of 516 million litres last week.
Dam levels have fallen further 0.5% to 20.9%. – African News Agency (ANA)