For the past few years the catchment dams around our town have dried up completely during the drought, leaving the town heavily dependent on water piped in from the Orange River via the Fish River. In June last year Milner Dam looked like this:
It has taken months after rain in March – none of it heavy downpours, but all within the catchment area – for enough water to finally seep through the surrounding countryside so that it could begin filling the dam. This view of it was taken in March:
I felt such a thrill of excitement at seeing the sky reflected off the water! The water level is still very shallow and the dam is still very far from being operational once more. There is less water in it now, two months later, and even less chance of any further rain coming as winter is peeping around the corner. I am hoping though that the dam won’t dry up completely and that more water will come through along with the summer.
Something Over Tea 
Ek hoop saam met jou, Anne.
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Dankie Una. Meskien sal dit ons beurt om reen te kry wanneer die somer weer kom.
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It is looking rather low. I hope that you get some unexpected rain.
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The water level cannot be more than a few inches at most.
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With cooler days ahead perhaps the water level won’t get too much lower.
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I hope so.
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The continued drought in the Eastern Cape is really baffling and worrying. This tiny lick of water is keeping hope alive.
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It lifts my heart whenever I drive past …
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This is an all too familiar sight to me. The hope that a wisp of dark cloud brings and the sheer happiness of a few inches of water …..I understand and hope it will translate into more water.
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I appreciate your empathy, Jaya.
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Those pictures say it all. May you have more rain soon
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Sadly we are forecast to be dry for the next few weeks. Still, one can never tell 🙂
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Gosh that drough sounds scary! I have seen reservoirs around here very low but never completely dry and that was worryoing enough. I hope you get rain soon but in a way that doesn’t just cause flooding. I gather that very dry ground can’t absorb water if it comes in a deluge but needs to be gradually moistened.
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You are right about the condition of the ground being right.
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Ai… reën en water beteken voorsiening, né. Ons is so afhanklik daarvan. Ons hoop die water hou tot volgende somer.
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Dankie Elsabe.
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I really hope you will get get more rain Anne!
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Thank you Aletta. Our turn is bound to come around.
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Is this where there was always that annual mile swimming race?
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That is Midmar Dam in KZN 🙂
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Ah! Now I remember 😊. Thanks. I’m guessing with recent rains THAT dam is full!!
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That’s amazing to see – you should continue documenting it and do another post when it finally gets back to normal.
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This is an excellent idea.
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Yes, it would be interesting to see how long before it fills to capacity.
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Here’s hoping and wishing more water fills up the tank in the summer and the years to follow.
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Thank you, Shail. We do occasionally receive rain during the winter months, so continue to hope 🙂
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