Question NW2057 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation

Reply:

South Africa receives both summer and winter rainfall, with most Provinces falling within the summer rainfall area; whereas the Western Cape Province receives its rainfall mainly in winter. As a result, annual water allocation decisions for the summer rainfall areas are made in May or June when most of the summer rainfall is believed to have been harvested. On the other hand, the decision date for the winter rainfall areas is November.

The water reserves in most Provinces have been generally sufficient due to good rains received during the past summer rainfall season. The state of water storage in dams as at 30 August 2021 per Province is indicated in the table below:

Water availability and supply situation is determined by undertaking an Annual Operating Analysis (AOA) of the relevant water supply systems in the Provinces. The AOA determines the amount of water that can be supplied sustainably and equitably over the coming year considering the amount of water in storage at the decision date of the system. Water restrictions are implemented in cases of inadequate water availability.

The provinces with relatively less water availability, as indicated by low Dam levels, are located in the Eastern Cape and parts of the Western Cape Provinces. Dam levels in the Western Cape winter rainfall area are generally good and still increasing given that the Province is still in its rainfall season.

The main two water supply systems in the Eastern Cape experiencing water shortages are the Algoa and Amathole Water Supply Systems (WSS). The Algoa WSS supplies water to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipal Metro (NMBMM), Kouga Local Municipality and the irrigation sector. On the other hand, Amathole WSS supplies the Buffalo City Local Municipality and Amatola Water Board in East London and surrounding areas; as well as the irrigation sector.

On river systems that have been found to have inadequate water availability for the season, water restrictions are proclaimed in the government gazette to curb water abstractions in order to prolong supplies, especially for essential use. The Provinces with water restrictions on a number of systems/dams are listed below as:

Eastern Cape Province

The Algoa Water Supply System, which supplies the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro area, comprises of 5 Dams and is also augmented by the Orange-Fish-Sundays transfer scheme from the Orange River System in the Free State. There are currently restrictions imposed at 80% on irrigation supply and an overall 30% on the domestic sector. Specific restrictions for the different dams are indicated in Table 2.

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	Storage Level (%) – 01 Jun 2021 (Decision Date)	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	% Restrictions
Churchill	35.24	23.07	19.55	50% Domestic & 80% Irrigation
Impofu	105.76	15.04	16.99
Kouga	125.91	4.22	5.44	70% Domestic & 80% Irrigation
Loerie	3.03	37.16	32.8
Groendal	11.64	26.64	21.81	80% Irrigation
Total System	281.6	11.92	12.51	30% Domestic and 80% Irrigation

Note: A supply of 58 million m³/a from the Orange-Fish-Sundays transfer scheme to the NMBMM

is not restricted

The Amathole Water Supply System, which supplies the Buffalo City area comprises of 6 Dams as detailed in table 3 below – 10% Restrictions are required on the domestic water supply and 30% on irrigation.

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	Storage Level (%) – 01 Jun 2021 (Decision Date)	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	% Restrictions
Rooikrantz	4.79	97.14	77.59	10% on Domestic & 30% on irrigation
Laing	18.90	99.57	100.65
Bridle Drift	97.92	26.59	21.15
Wriggleswade	91.47	19.06	14.88
Nahoon	19.26	42.00	28.86
Gubu	8.52	85.76	79.36
Total System	240.88	34.19	28.81

 

Stand-alone Dams in Eastern Cape Province that are experiencing water shortage and requiring restriction rules for the season are listed in Table 4 below.

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	Storage Level (%) – 01 Jun 2021 (Decision Date)	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	% Restrictions
Nqweba	44.7	8.0	6.7	20% domestic
Howiesonspoort and Settlers Dam	6.4	Not known - no information received from the municipality	20% domestic & 70% irrigation
Sandile	29.7	56.0	50.7	30% irrigation
Xilinxa and Gcuwa	14.2	20.4	7	20% domestic
Kliplaat	57.1	26.9	24.3	30% irrigation
Mhlanga	1.6	13.2	35.1	10% domestic

 

Western Cape Province

Stand-alone Dams in Western Cape Province that are experiencing water shortages and requiring restriction rules for the season are listed in Table 5 below.

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	Storage level at decision date 1 June 2021	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	Restrictions Required at Decision Date
Gamka	1.82	45.1	32.62	10% domestic
Oukloof	4.19	0.0	0.00	90% irrigation
Karee	0.95	14.9	21.00	50% domestic

 

Mpumalanga Province

Stand-alone Dams in Mpumalanga Province that are experiencing water shortage and requiring restriction rules for the season are listed in Table 6 below.

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	% Storage decision date - 1 May 2021	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	Restrictions Required at Decision Date
Mkhombo	204.6	10	7.6	10% domestic, 40% irrigation
Rust de Winter	28.2	100	99.65	10% domestic, 40% irrigation
Ohrigstad	13.5	100	57.6	10% domestic and irrigation

Limpopo Province

Stand-alone Dams in Limpopo Province that are experiencing water shortage and requiring restriction rules for the season are listed in Table 7 below.

Table 7: Stand-alone Dams in Limpopo Province

Dam	Net Full Supply Capacity (Million m3)	% Storage decision date 1 May 2021	Storage Level (%) – 30 Aug 2021	Restrictions Required at Decision Date
Middle Letaba	171.9	11	7.79	35% domestic, 70% irrigation
Nsami	21.9	90.5	71.46	35% domestic, 70% irrigation

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