Six sluice gates opened at Vaal Dam due to heavy inflows

12 Views

Amid rapidly rising water levels at the Vaal Dam due to heavy inflows from the upper catchments, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has opened all six sluice gates to manage the water inflow of 2056.50 cubic metres per second (m3/s) of water flowing into the dam.

The department announced the opening of a fifth sluice gate at 14:30 on Thursday, followed by a sixth gate at 16:00.

“At Bloemhof Dam, water outflows are also being increased incrementally at different times from 800 m3/s to 1050 m3/s at 09:00; 1300 m3/s at 11:00; 1550 m3/s at 13:00; 1800 m3/s at 15:00 and to 2000 m3/s by 17:00.

“These adjustments are necessary to manage the continuous rising inflows and safe operation of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams, which were sitting at 113.54% and 107.30% by midday.

“There are potential plans to further increase outflows from both dams tomorrow (Friday).

“One sluice gate remains opened at Grootdraai Dam, and the storage capacity is at 105.71%, with inflows of 141.72 m³/s.

“In the Orange River, the Gariep and the Vandekloof Dams are currently sitting at 107.13% and 105.3% respectively and overspilling,” the department said in a statement.

The department warned that the controlled and uncontrolled water releases at all these dams will lead to overtopping of riverbanks downstream of the Orange and the Vaal Rivers, resulting in flooding of settlements that are in the lower-lying areas within the 1 in 100-year floodline.

“People living within the floodline downstream of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams and have had to evacuate should continue to avoid the flooded areas as the river catchment remains oversaturated.”