Last week our mischievous City Fathers introduced a new number for the citizens of Nelson Mandela Bay to watch and pray over – the dam levels of the Kromme River system, which consists of the Churchill and Impofu dams, were deemed to be the most important indicators of whether water restrictions could be lifted totally. And the magic number was pronounced as 85%.
Having said that, on Thursday last week, our political masters ‘magnanimously’ announced the lifting of several water restrictions today 25 July with the lifting of punitive tariffs from 1 August 2011.
I sense the hand of God operating in the past four days and I also sense that He is a God with a mischievous streak as we have had torrential rains these paste two days which have mightily affected the so-called ‘Kromme River Indicator’ by pushing the combined Churchill and Impofu dam levels to 82.8% and, with the run off we are sure they will soon exceed the ‘magical’ figure of 85%.
God has spoken and he has said; “Enough of this dilly dallying with my people – for they have suffered enough!”
Major Storage Dams supplying the Metro (levels as at 25 July 2011). Capacity – Volume of water:
- Kouga: 100% – 125 910 Ml
- Churchill: 100% – 35 240
- Impofu: 77,1% – 81 519
- Loerie: 100% – 3 026
- Groendal: 100% – 11 640
- Average All: 91,4% of total combined capacity (257 335 Ml).
- Kromme system (Churchill & Impofu combined): 82,8% (UP from 78.4% on 20 July 2011).
Images of the Kouga and Loerie Dams Overflowing on 18 June 2011:
[nggallery id=13]
Report Water Leaks to: 041 505 2258 or 0800 20 5050
Alan Straton
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When the 85% is achieved a new magical number will surface or another reason will be pulled from the Mayor’s ummmmm….. hat!