35-DAY WATER SUPPLY LEFT AT HAWANE DAM

HAWANE – Hawane Dam has water that can supply Mbabane and Ezulwini residents for not more than 35 days.

This was disclosed by Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) Director Technical Bongani Mdluli, during an assessment exercise, that was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, yesterday. The assessment exercise which was led by Acting Principal Secretary Sicelo Nxumalo was conducted in the main dams, which are Luphohlo, Hawane and Maguga. The exercise was prompted by the decrease in water levels in these dams among others. These dams are crucial in electricity generation, water supply and irrigation. The aim of the assessment was to get first-hand information on the situation, which will enable the ministry to draw up mitigation plans from an informed position.

Agencies

During the tour, the ministry was with representatives from its parastatals and agencies that included Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), EWSC and the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA). During the delegation’s visit to Hawane Dam, which supplies water to areas in Mbabane and surroundings, as well as Ezulwini, a serious decline in water levels was noted. According to the director, the dam has a 37 per cent capacity, which he said is low. Testament to the low levels, some parts of the dam that usually flow with water were dry.

“These days, we use rivers downstream to supply water to some areas. The water levels range around 43 per cent. Before the rains that were experienced these past days, the water levels were at 37 per cent capacity of the dam, but we are hopeful that more rains will come and Mbabane and Ezulwini residents will have water,” he said. Mdluli added that the current water stored in the dam could supply these areas for no more than 35 days, if the country will not receive rains in the coming months. He added that the 35 days is just uninterrupted water supply.

He said, however, they are hopeful that more rains will come, which will enable the dam to collect more water to feed the residents. Noteworthy, the EWSC had been on an assignment to look for alternative water sources for Mbabane, Ezulwini and surrounding areas, after the country experienced a serious drought in 2015/2016. The parastatal was also tasked with desilting the dam.  During the tour, it was mentioned that despite the fact that the high volumes of silt in the dam were also a contributing factor to the reduced capacity over the years, the desilting exercise did not take place.

Additionally, Mdluli stated that the corporation had been looking at alternative water sources. The director stated that there is a water treatment plant under construction at Luphohlo Dam. At the completion of the plant, Mbabane and Ezulwini residents will be free from water blues. The delegation also went to Maguga Dam, which is one of the biggest dams in Eswatini. The dam supplies water to communities downstream, used to generate hydropower electricity, as well as for irrigation of sugarcane fields, among other crops, for commercial agriculture.

Levels

The water levels in this dam were also evidently low. The dam is 150 metres deep, but water levels were slightly above 70 metres. KOBWA Operations Director Sakhiwe Nkomo shared that the dam is shared by Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa. “Eswatini has an allocation of 257 million cubic metres per year, South Africa has 303 million,” he said. Nkomo shared that the dam is above 50 per cent and they are hopeful that more rains will come and increase the capacity. He added that should the worst case scenario occur, where the country may not receive rains for prolonged periods, the current water capacity in the dam could only supply the residents and irrigate fields for a year and a half.Speaking during the tour, Nxumalo said, after visiting the three dams, it was encouraging that the country was not going to experience any water and electricity rationing due to the recent rains that made a difference in the dams.  The acting PS noted that there was a possibility of there being water rationing and decline in electricity generation due to lower levels in dams.

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