El Niño effects felt as dam levels drop

North West’s 25 dams this week held a mere 45,9 million cubic metres, compared to the 68,7 million cubic meters of this time last year, according to information posted on the website of the department of water.

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In KZN, the 18 dams, including Hluhluwe, Driel Barrage and Inanda, held 70 million cubic metres, compared to 84 million cubic metres last year.

Free State’s 19 dams, including the Groothoek, Krugersdrift, Vaal, and Gariep, held 78,8 million cubic metres of water this week, down from 91,1 million cubic metres this time last year.

Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly in Johannesburg this week, Nomvula Mokonyane, minister for water and sanitation, said a multi-disciplinary task team comprising authorities from the departments of environment, water and sanitation, and agriculture had been formed to look at ways to mitigate the crisis.

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