Water Wise Watch: May
In this issue:
Water Wise Tip of the Month from Leslie Hoy“Automatic irrigation systems must be turned down to reduce watering times and quantities by at least 50%. This will cater for the change in season. All manual watering should be reduced by half.” |
This month with Water Wise - Brought to you by Rand Water and Water Wise
Water supply to the Vaal Dam described in images (diagram to the left)
International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May 2017
Drought FAQs www.droughtsa.org.za/faq.html:
- A drought is defined as a period of below average rainfall. The severity of a drought is determined by how far below average the rainfall is, for how long the dry period occurs, and to what extent available waterreaches the groundwater.
- An agricultural drought occurs when there is not enough moisture to support average crop production and grass production.
- A hydrological drought occurs when there is reduced stream flows and water reserves in aquifers, lakes, and reservoirs fall below a statistical average.
- A meteorological drought occurs after a prolonged period of below average rainfall (usually less than 70%), creating natural shortages of available water.
- South Africa has a unique topography that creates a variability in climate in both space and time.
- South Africa also has one of the most variable river flow regimes in the world.
South African Water Restrictions
The Drought SA portal was developed to provide a gateway to managing water scarcity in times of drought. The website is managed by the Water Research Commission (WRC). Information on other provinces can be found on the website. To view water restrictions in various provinces across the country, click on the image below.
Current dam capacities*:
Woodstock Dam:
53.8%
Katse Dam:
49.9%
Sterkfontein Dam:
89.7%
Grootdraai Dam:
95.6%
Vaal Dam:
103.6%
Bloemhof Dam:
101.0%
Vaal Barrage Dam:
94.8%
*at time of print 21-04-2017
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Did you know?
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SA uses about 10 200 million m3 of water a year from its major dams. The majority of water consumption can be attributed to drinking, irrigation, electricity, and mining and industry.Ref: DWS (2017)
Water in the News
Government confirms El Niño drought likely this year:
“Drought conditions associated with an El Niño weather pattern are likely to reoccur in a few months time, the South African government said. “Recurrence of El Niño drought conditions likely...”.”
Days to remember:
1 May
1 May
14 May
22 May
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