Sterkfontein water to boost Vaal dam levels

While reiterating its call for citizens to use water wisely, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) on Thursday announced that it would release water from its reserve Sterkfontein dam into the Vaal dam on November 7. Amid the ongoing drought, dam levels across the country have depleted to unprecedented levels, with the Vaal dam at 26.6%. The Vaal dam supplies water to 14 dams and about 12-million people and industries. The plan is to release water before the Vaal dam drops below 25%, depending on the rate the dam is dropping and, should there be considerable rainfall on days before the release, the plan will be reconsidered. The water will be released into the Nuwejaarspruit, which joins the Wilge river in the outskirts of Harrismith flowing into the Vaal dam. The release will be done in such a way as to avoid flooding. Farmers adjacent to the river have been requested to remove pumps, livestock and farming equipment.