The Department of Water Affairs is constantly monitoring the situation in the Vaal and Orange River catchment amid a rise in water levels in some of the four largest dams in the catchment following rainfall over the past week. The Vaal Dam is currently 99% full, five flood gates have been opened bringing the outflow 600 m3/s (cubic meters per second).
At the Bloemhof Dam the capacity is currently 96%, the outflow is 200 m3/s, the plan is to increase the outflow at 16:00 to 400 m3/s, at 17:00 to 700 m3/s, at 18:00 to 1 000 m3/s and at 06:00 tomorrow morning (January, 25) to 1 300 m3/s.
The Gariep Dam is currently at 109% full with the outflow at 1 200 m3/s. At the Vanderkloof Dam, the capacity is currently at 110%, the inflow is 1 400 m3/s and the outflow is 1 650 m3/s (to increase to 1 700 m3/s).
The predicted flow in the Lower Orange River is 3 150 m3/s (cubic meters per second).
The SA Weather Service has forecast a 60% chance of showers and thundershowers for the next 24 hours in the Orange River catchment and north with the possibility of heavy rain in the Free State, Gauteng and North West.
More information may be obtained on the Departmental website at: http://www.dwa.gov.za/Hydrology/
Contact: Linda Page
Cell: 083 460 4482
Tel: 012 336 82 50
Themba Khumalo
Cell: 082 802 3432
Update on dam levels Vaal and Orange River Catchment
