Times Of Swaziland: MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN MANY DAMS

MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN MANY DAMS
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 BY THEMBA ZWANE on 17/01/2017 00:06:00


MBABANE – Improvement in water levels is visible in all dams in the country
following the recently received rainfall.
Although some of the dams are almost full or overflowing, some have still not
reached sufficient capacity.
Maguga Dam, which has not been full for some time as a result of the
El-Nino-induced drought, is now at 39.4 per cent in water levels.
Information obtained from the Ministry of Natural Resources, under the Water
Affairs Department, also reveals that Luphohlo Dam is almost at full capacity.
The dam now stands at 95 per cent.
The Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC) uses this dam and Maguga Dam for the
generation of power.
However, due to low water levels last year, the company decided to stop local
power generation and import 100 per cent of electricity from neighbouring
countries.
The dam was then allowed to collect water for electricity generation during the
peak season, which is the winter season.
An agreement was made between SEC and the Swaziland Water Services Corporation
(SWSC) to have the latter source water from the dam to supply Mbabane and
surrounding areas after water levels drastically decreased at Hawane Dam.
They actually reached zero per cent last year.
SWSC used Hawane Dam to source water to supply Mbabane and Ngwenya residents.
This dam is now overflowing and is at 100 per cent carrying capacity.
Also struggling is Mnjoli Dam as it has only managed to accumulate just 20.5 per
cent in water levels, according to the latest recordings of the department.
Lubovane Dam is one of the local dams that have significantly improved after the
recent rainfall as it is currently at 81 per cent in water levels.
According to the department’s Chief Water Engineer, Trevor Shongwe, the
country received good rains over the last few weeks.