Nelson Mandela Bay drought could be over
With combined dam levels at 69%, Nelson Mandela Bay’s drought-stricken days and water restrictions could be a thing of the past
After facing day zero in the eye over the last year, Nelson Mandela Bay residents, can start breathing a sigh of relief as their drought may be behind them.
RAPID RISING DAM LEVELS
ALSO READ: The Kouga Dam is about to overflow for the first time since 2015
The recent heavy rains have been welcomed by residents in the metro as dam levels rose rapidly in just a matter of days.
The latest update by the municipality revealed that four of the five dams supplying the metro are at 100% while, the largest dam Impofu Dam is at over 20%.
ALSO READ: More than 20 rainfall RECORDS broken in one day in THREE provinces of SA
ALSO READ: Dam levels: Water levels rise in drought stricken Nelson Mandela Bay
Jubilant residents took to social media on Friday to share pictures and videos of Kouga Dam overflowing for the first time since 2015.
Many residents also flocked to the dam, to see the start of the overflow with their own eyes.
Just three months ago, the Kouga Dam was just under 30%. Last week, the dam levels were a little over 77%.
IS THE DROUGHT OVER?
Good news for Impofu Dam, as Churchill has also started to overflow, the water will run downstream to fill it up.
ALSO READ: Nelson Mandela Bay Dam drops to its lowest level
For the last couple of years, as the metro’s water reserves continued to get depleted and no significant rainfall over the years, the Department of Water and Sanitation placed the metro on strict water restrictions.
In just a year, the combined dam levels have risen from 11% to 69%, with restriction likely to start being lifted, as for NMB resident the worst is behind them and await minister Senzo Mchunu to announce that the drought is over.