It’s not much, but farmers rejoice as water pours into Poortjieskloof Dam
FARMERS have expressed joy after the Poortjieskloof Dam outside Montagu received water for the first time after years of drought.
The dam, which mainly serves for irrigation purposes, has not been of much use to the community and farmers in recent years after it dried out.
Located in the Groot River, the dam was built in 1955 and has a capacity of about 9 800 000 kilolitres.
Agri Western Cape chief executive
Jannie Strydom said they were hopeful that more rain will fill the dam later this week.
“There is about 3 metres of water in the dam -that constitutes about 1% of the capacity.
“It's very early days but at least it's the first in about 2-3 years that there is water in the dam so we are very grateful.
“We are expecting more rain that will fill the dam to a better level later in the week, seeing that all the dry areas have been covered now with the water on its way to the dam.
“Farmers have been affected badly as they irrigate from the dam and therefore the lack of water impacted negatively on production,” he said.
Montagu-Ashton Tourism manager, Mareletta Mundey said the town was filled with joy.
“There is nothing like the blessing of water when you know your town's survival is strongly dependant on agriculture and tourism. The joy and the gratitude for knowing better days are coming, the knowing in your heart that an almost six year drought has been broken while watching water flow slowly into a bone dry, mud cracked dam is priceless. The entire town is sharing in the joy, since Montagu is such a tight knit community, we carry each other's burdens and blessings,” she said.
Norbert Engel of Kigna Brandy and Farm, said Portjieskloof dam still needs plenty of water but they were hopeful.
“After years of drought the Dwariga river is flowing into the Kingna river for the first time in seven years. Unfortunately Poortjieskloof dam still needs plenty of water but we are thankful,” Engel said.