Vaal Dam overflows, more sluice gates opened
The Department of Water and Sanitation has opened four more sluice gates at the Vaal Dam to manage the water inflow of 2056.50 cubic metres per second of water flowing into the dam.
This brings the total of open sluice gates to 10 after six gates were opened on Thursday.
The dam level is currently sitting at 110.27%.
"These adjustments are necessary to manage the continuous rising inflows and safe operation of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams," said Department' spokesperson Wisani Mavasa.
"With more inflows anticipated into the dams, especially the downstream Bloemhof Dam, outflows may potentially be increased later in the afternoon or tomorrow. At Grootdraai Dam, the already opened gate has been increased to 2.5 metres (m) due to the higher inflows of 967.47 m³/s." she added.
In the Orange River, the Gariep and the Vandekloof Dams are currently sitting at 108.25% and 106.09% respectively and overspilling.
Mavasa urged residents living on the flood lines to evacuate as a precautionary measure.
"People living within the flood line downstream of the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams, and have had to evacuate should continue to avoid the flooded areas as the river catchment remains
oversaturated."
