On top of the possible threat of loadshedding in the winter season, South Africans may also face continued water restrictions as a result of the drought not improving, according to government.
The Department of Water and Sanitation says South Africa continues to experience dry weather patterns due to the El Nino that are yet to completely subside, leading to far lower levels of water in reservoirs across the country.
“The current average dam level stood at 54%, a far cry from normal levels during normal rainy seasons,” said Dr Dennis Dlamini, a hydrologist at the department. “Ideally, dams should be full this time of the year after heavy downpours in the months of January and February.”
Dlamini added that although El Nino has slowed down recently, its effects will take time to rescind. High rainfall predicted for April will also have little impact on the situation as the country enters drier seasons.
Water restrictions were implemented in parts of the country last year including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Limpopo, as municipalities scrambled to avoid a complete wave of dry taps in communities.
In last month’s Budget Speech, finance minister Pravin Gordhan allocated R1.1 billion towards drought relief for interventions such as drilling boreholes, distributing animal feed, moving cattle herds and transporting potable water to hard-hit areas.
[Source – SA Government New Agency, image – image – CC Roger]
