The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) reports that the Free State has "broken the record with its amazingly high dam levels" in the midst of a dry winter.

Currently, the province compares favourably with the Western Cape, whose traditional winter rains have elevated the levels to 86.2% this week.

The Free State boasts some of the biggest dams in the country, with one of these supplying water to parts of the north-eastern Eastern Cape to keep the water resources in that area afloat. Gariep dam, the biggest water reservoir in the country, is currently at 87.4% while Vanderkloof has almost reached its capacity at 98.6%.

Sterkfontein, the reserve dam for the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), has also reached its capacity, standing at 99.9%.

"Second after the Free State is Gauteng, which, because of the small nature of its dams, fills up at the slightest positive activity, the DWS notes.

The current level of Gauteng’s dams is 96.3%. Despite the absence of rain because of the dry winter, Bon Accord dam, north of Pretoria, is bursting at the seams with a level of 104.2%, while the Rietvlei dam, on the outskirts of the capital city, has almost reached its capacity at 99.8%.

Meanwhile, heavy winter rainfall has boosted the average dam levels in the Western Cape to 86.2%. The province has recovered from the worst drought conditions that plunged it to a near-total absence of water in 2018. Although the province has recovered from the situation, the Central Karoo region still remains dry. 

While in January the Tropical Cyclone Eloise damaged some infrastructure in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, it helped to increase the dam levels in winter at an average 82.9%. The current reading of levels in both provinces is 82.9% and 82.3% respectively.

However, the situation in Mopani district of Limpopo remains a concern, with dam levels running below 10%. The DWS is in the process of raising the Tzaneen dam wall to facilitate the availability of more water in the citrus region.

Dam levels in North West and KwaZulu-Natal are above high level as the former province recorded 79.3%, while the latter recorded 68.3%.

However, the Eastern Cape – with its persistent drought – remains a source of concern as the average dam levels hover at 50.5%. There are fears that the province might be headed for yet another dry season when the summer rains begin in two months.

The DWS further states that it is always important to see what the state of the different water supply systems (WSSs) across the country is like.

The IIVRS, the biggest in the country and served by 14 dams with catchments in various provinces and the Kingdom of Lesotho, stands at 85% this week.

The two systems in the Eastern Cape, however, remain a cause for concern. The Algoa Supply System stands at 10.6% for a second week running, while the Amathole WSS stands at a slightly better level of 30.3%. The Butterworth WSS stands at a paltry 11%, and the Klipplaat WSS stands at 24%.

In KwaZulu-Natal, the Umgeni WSS is at a healthy 78.2% this week.

The DWS appeals to South Africans across the spectrum to continue saving water to ensure sustenance of livelihoods and to boost the economy.