Third-driest January in Bay

IN the midst of a critical drought in Nelson Mandela Bay, the city has just experienced its third-driest January on record.

This was announced yesterday by the South African Weather Service, which recorded only 7.6mm of rain in the city last month.

The driest start to the year for the city was recorded in 1983, when only 5.5mm was recorded. The second-driest January occurred in 1977, with 6.5mm.

The weather service’s Garth Sampson said no significant rainfall was expected for the first week of this month.

“The seasonal forecast, which ends in June, shows near-normal to below-normal rainfall,” he said.

According to the municipality, supply dams were at a collective average of 26.16% of capacity on Wednesday.

The Department of Water and Sanitation also warned that dam levels were critically low across the Eastern Cape.

“The Eastern Cape dam levels remain critically low at 59.9% this week.

“At the same time last year, they were at 57.5%, clear evidence that the drought is still upon us,” it said.

“The [department] is making an appeal to residents of the Eastern Cape to save water and adhere to the restrictions implemented by certain municipalities, and report all leaks to our toll-free number, 0800-200 200.”