Lack of rain compromises Maputo dam levels

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Lack of rain compromises Maputo dam levels

2:04 CAT | 01 Dec 2020

The Pequenos Libombos reservoir, which supplies the Mozambican capital, is at low levels because of low rainfall, an official source told Lusa today.

“The situation is aggravated by the scarcity of rain, contradicting forecasts of normal to above-normal rains for the southern region,” director of the National Directorate of Water Resources Management, Agostinho Vilanculos, has said.

The Pequenos Libombos dam currently stands at only 19% full, compared to the 30% expected at this time of year, a situation that also affects the Corumana dam in the south, which has 23%, and the Nampula dam in the north, with 30%.

“We are using more than we are taking in. This situation worsens the storage situation in these reservoirs,” he said.

Vilanculos says that the situation in the southern part of Mozambique worsened between October and November, with only 30 millimetres of rain against the expected 80 to 100 millimetres.

“Rain is the most important element. If there is no rain, there is no miracle,” he said.

Regarding the Nampula reservoir, which supplies the provincial capital city, Agostinho Vilanculos warned it risked moving into the “critical” level if it does not rain in the next 15 days.

“In Nampula, the water is running out. It is a small dam, and 30% is not enough. We are already implementing restrictions, reducing supply to six hours a day,” he explained.

In Maputo, the authorities have “some hope”, and are still filling 100% of demand in the city and province of Maputo.

“We have not yet changed the operating rules; we hope it will rain,” he underlined

Vilancuos says the situation is being monitored to assess what measures to apply if the situation worsens.

“We call on the population to continue to observe containment measures, as water is becoming increasingly scarce,” he concluded.

Source: Lusa