Amid quickly rising water ranges on the Vaal Dam as a result of heavy inflows from the higher catchments, the Division of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has opened all six sluice gates to handle the water influx of 2056.50 cubic metres per second (m3/s) of water flowing into the dam.
The division introduced the opening of a fifth sluice gate at 14:30 on Thursday, adopted by a sixth gate at 16:00.
“At Bloemhof Dam, water outflows are additionally being elevated incrementally at totally different instances from 800 m3/s to 1050 m3/s at 09:00; 1300 m3/s at 11:00; 1550 m3/s at 13:00; 1800 m3/s at 15:00 and to 2000 m3/s by 17:00.
“These changes are essential to handle the continual rising inflows and secure operation of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams, which had been sitting at 113.54% and 107.30% by noon.
“There are potential plans to additional improve outflows from each dams tomorrow (Friday).
“One sluice gate stays opened at Grootdraai Dam, and the storage capability is at 105.71%, with inflows of 141.72 m³/s.
“Within the Orange River, the Gariep and the Vandekloof Dams are presently sitting at 107.13% and 105.3% respectively and overspilling,” the division mentioned in a press release.
The division warned that the managed and uncontrolled water releases in any respect these dams will result in overtopping of riverbanks downstream of the Orange and the Vaal Rivers, leading to flooding of settlements which can be within the lower-lying areas throughout the 1 in 100-year floodline.
“Individuals residing throughout the floodline downstream of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams and have needed to evacuate ought to proceed to keep away from the flooded areas because the river catchment stays oversaturated.”
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