The Department of Water Affairs is closely monitoring the levels of the country’s largest dams. People living near the Orange River downstream of the confluence with the Fish River should exercise caution as rising water levels are expected due to high flows in the Fish River and Orange River.
In the Vaal and Orange River Catchment, the Vaal Dam is currently 100 percent full, the outflow is 50 m3/s (cubic meters per second) five sluice valves are presently open. The Bloemhof Dam is at 93 percent, the current inflow is 740 m3/s, the outflow is 200 m3/s.
At the same time, the Gariep Dam stands at 108 percent with the water level decreasing steadily. The inflow is 660 m3/s (cubic meters per second) and the outflow is 1100 m3/s. At the Vanderkloof Dam the water level is decreasing, the capacity is currently at 108 percent with an outflow of 1300 m3/s.
In the Lower Orange River, the current flow at Katlani (Orange- Vaal River confluence) is 3000 m3/s and 3500 m3/s at Prieska. In the town of Upington the current flow is 3600 m3/s, at Vioolsdrift (upstream of the confluence with the Fish River) the flow is 4000 m3/s.
The South African Weather Service has forecast 30 to 60 percent chance of showers and thundershowers for the next 24 hours in the Vaal River catchment 30 to 60 percent chance of showers and thundershowers for the next 24 hours in the Orange River catchment.
More information may be obtained on the departmental website at: http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/
Enquiries:
Linda Page
Cell: 083 460 4482
Tel: 012 336 8250
Source: Department of Water Affairs
