Water levels remain high at Lower Orange and Lower Vaal Rivers while outflows decrease uprivers
As at Sunday, 26 February 2023, the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Hydrological Monitoring and Forecasting System shows that water levels at Lower Orange River and Lower Vaal River remain high and may take a while to respond to the reduced flows from both the upstream Orange and Vaal rivers.
At the Douglas Weir, at the confluence of Vaal and Orange rivers, the storage capacity of the dam is currently sitting at 170%.
The Department continues to closely monitor the water flow in the affected rivers and dams, and urge communities to remain alert, avoid crossing low lying bridges, overflowing rivers and streams, and not to return to evacuated residences while these water courses are overflowing.
The Vaal Dam is experiencing continuous decrease in water capacity, with the dam currently sitting at 111%. One (1) more sluice gate is closed today, resulting in 7 gates remaining open.
The water levels at Bloemhof Dam, also on decline, are currently at 107%, and the water discharge is being reduced gradually from 3200 m3/s to 2800m3/s by midday.
In the Orange River, the Gariep Dam is also sitting at around 110%, and the releases into the Orange river are 1342m3/s. At the Vanderkloof dam, water levels are at 109.55% and outflow releases are 1118m3/s.
For more information, contact Wisane Mavasa,
Cell: 060 561 8935.
