The Department of Water Affairs is again warning residents near the Orange River downstream of the town of Douglas in the Northern Cape to be on the lookout for fast rising water levels. Douglas is situation at the confluence of the Vaal and Orange rivers. It is predicted that at Upington, water levels in the lower Orange River could reach a height of up to 7.9 metres with a flood peak of 5 300 m3/s (cubic metres per second) expected on Friday (14/01/2011).
In the Vaal and Orange River catchment, the Vaal Dam is currently 100% full and the outflow has been reduced to 780 m3/s ( cubic meters per second) seven flood gates are now open, these will remain open for the next two days.
The Bloemhof Dam is currently at 104% (to increase to 110% on 13/01/2011), the inflow is 3 700 m3/s and the outflow is 2 800 m3/s (cubic meters per second).
At the Gariep Dam the outflow is 2 000 m3/s and the current capacity of the dam is 115%. The dam is expected to return to a capacity of 100% in just over a week.
The Vanderkloof Dam is currently 113% full with an outflow of 2 300 m3/s.
As indicated on the website of the Department of Water Affairs, a flood peak of 5 300 m3/s is predicted at Upington on 14/01/2011 and in the area of Brand Karos a flood peak of 5 100 m3/s is predicted on 19/01/2011.
Additional historical flood information at Upington:
|
Year |
Flow (m3/s) |
Stage (m) |
Approximate return period of flood peak (year) |
|
1975 |
3 100 |
6.2 |
|
|
1988 |
8 300 |
9.4 |
100 |
|
1996 |
2 400 |
5.6 |
7 |
|
2010 |
3 300 |
6.4 |
|
|
“2011 predicted low” |
“5 100” |
“7.7” |
20 |
|
“2011 predicted high” |
“5 400” |
“7.9“ |
|
More information can be obtained on the Department of Water Affairs website at http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/
Enquiries:
Linda Page
Director: Media liaison
Cell: 083 460 4482
Source: Department of Water Affairs
