More rains needed to supply Msunduzi

MIDMAR Dam is currently 70% full after weeks of much needed rain, however, restrictions of 15% in the Mgeni system remain because of the backlogs in rainfall.

Over the 96 hour period from Monday, 20 February, to Thursday, 23 February, a total of 409 mm rainfall was recorded at the six dam sites, Mearns, Spring Grove, Midmar, Albert Falls, Nagle and Inanda, in the Mgeni system.

Despite this, the overall amount of rainfall received in the entire rainfall season is still below average, resulting in rainfall shortage and insufficient water resources in the Mgeni system, causing Midmar and Albert Falls dams to remain at low levels.

Umgeni Water Corporate Stakeholder Manager, Shami Harichunder, said the Joint Operations Committee for the Mgeni system met last month to discussed the slight improvement in the levels of major dams and the amount of rainfall received in their catchments.