Heavy downpours bring solace and concern as inflows rise
Widespread and consistent rainfall across large parts of the country, particularly the inland provinces, has led to high inflows into key dam basins within a short period of time.
Even as these rains are expected to continue throughout the weekend into the next week, this implies that a higher sense of vigilance is required regarding the performance of the country’s major reservoirs.
The Department of Water and Sanitation, in line with its normal duties of keeping an eye hourly on these inflows and their impact on the watercourses and major dam basins, has found the Vaal Dam to have reached 100,49%, and is rising rapidly. At this moment all the valves are open and assisting with managing the pressure on the infrastructure. Releases from the Vaal Dam will be amended over the next few days based upon the hydrological data to be received of run-off in the Upper Vaal Catchment.
The Vaal-Orange System is receiving huge inflows thus impacting on both the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams, and necessitating releases from Bloemhof Dam as from midday today and will increase further into the afternoon
Hartbeespoort Dam in the North West is also experiencing high inflows thus the rise in its levels, while at the Pongolapoort Dam in KwaZulu-Natal, the annual releases into the Phongolo River have also begun on Friday 11 November.
It is imperative that all communities downstream of dams and rivers that are rising be cautious around these water bodies. It is important as well to understand that the calls from any local government emergency services need to be adhered to in order to ensure safety of lives and livelihoods.
Safety around water is critical as water is one element that carries both the capacity to enhance livelihoods, and that of devastation if care is not taken.
Enquiries:
Sputnik Ratau
Cell: 082 874 2942
