Agriculture
Three sluice gates opened ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall─── 05:00 Wed, 13 Apr 2022
With several cloudbursts over most of Central South Africa and more rain expected in the coming weeks, the Department of Water and Sanitation released water from three dams recently.
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The departmental spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, says “the decision comes after a huge amount of inflows was experienced because of the recent downpours.”
The Vaal Dam - which supplies most parts of Gauteng – stood at 110, 5% while Bloemhof Dam was at 106, 9% adds Ratau.
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“There are further recommendations from the DWS Hydrology experts that there be releases from the Bloemhof Dam, which is downstream of the Vaal Dam. The discharge at the Bloemhof Dam is currently at 354.37 cubic meters per second and will be increased to 500 cubic meters per second at 10h00, and further increased to 600 cubic meters per second,” adds Ratau.
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Ratau further warned downstream communities about the imminent increase of the outflow from the dams.
“Residents are warned to steer clear of the dam areas. Communities with equipment in and near the dams are asked to remove them so as to ensure that no damage is caused,” said Ratau.
