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Mpumalanga dam levels fall as department urges water saving

Published

The Department of Water and Sanitation says the average dam level in Mpumalanga fell from 98.7% to 98.3% in its weekly report. All but three dams in the province declined. The department cited concerns about a Super El Niño.

Dam levels fell in all three districts. Ehlanzeni dropped from 99.9% to 99.6%, Gert Sibande from 97.5% to 97.2%, and Nkangala from 99.6% to 99.0%.

Two water management areas also declined. The Limpopo-Olifants area fell from 99.8% to 99.1%, and the Inkomati-Usuthu area fell from 97.8% to 97.5%.

Ohrigstad Dam stood at 87.5%, down from 88.6%. Westoe Dam stood at 51.9%, down from 52.5%. The department ended its call with the words: "Every drop counts as water has no substitute".

Key facts

Who
Department of Water and Sanitation (government department issuing the weekly state of reservoirs report and water…)
What
The Department of Water and Sanitation reported in its weekly state of reservoirs report that Mpumalanga's provincial average dam level fell from 98.7% to 98.3%, with all but three dams declining, and called for water conservation amid concerns about a Super El Niño.
When
22 October 2026
Where
Mpumalanga, Ehlanzeni District, Gert Sibande
Status
Reported

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