Despite heavy rains last week, the drought doesn’t look like it will release its grip on the Eastern Cape any time soon.
Picture: MICHAEL PINYANA
According to the department of water and sanitation (DWS), the Eastern Cape continues lose water every week due to high temperatures and lack of adequate rain in the catchment areas.
At the time of writing, the average provincial dam level sat at a poor 48.8%, down by 0.8% from last week.
The Amatole region is currently sitting at an average dam level of 47.2% at the time of writing. Bridle Drift Dam is at 41.1%, Nahoon Dam at 55.2%, Gubu Dam at 66%, Rooikrans Dam at 32.6% and Wriggleswade Dam at 40%.
Only Laing Dam seems to be doing well and is currently at 100.7% capacity.
As the drought continues and is exacerbated by the climate crisis, the people hit the hardest will be those in poorer areas without access to decent services.
The GO! & Express reported last week how the community of Reeston is already suffering under a combination of crumbling infrastructure and increasingly strict water restrictions.
DWS is urging all residents to adhere to the current Stage 2 restrictions and to use water sparingly.
