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Due to the rapid increase of inflows into the #VaalDam, a fifth sluice gate has been opened at 10h00 this morning to manage water levels that have increased overnight as a result of the ongoing rainfall in the Vaal River catchment.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) says they have opened a fifth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam. The department says this is to manage the rapidly increasing water levels due to heavy rainfall overnight in the catchment area. The decision comes just 24 hours after the fourth gate was opened.
The department says controlled water releases aim to safeguard the dam’s infrastructure and maintain full storage capacity after the rainfall season.
The outflows at the dam will move from 550 cubic metres per second
(mᵌ/s) to just under 700 mᵌ/s. The inflows into the dam are currently 1000 m3/s.— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) April 6, 2025
The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa is urging residents along the Vaal River to remove valuable equipment, movable infrastructure and livestock, and evacuate to avoid damage or loss of life when the riverbanks overtop.
“The increased outflows from the Vaal dam are expected to reach the barrage in about six hours and Bloemhof Dam in three to four days and will result in water levels rising in both the dam and the river, overtopping of the riverbanks. Due to increased water releases by the five sluice gates, there might be a possible overflowing at the riverbanks downstream, and this will affect infrastructure built in lower-lying areas within the 100-year flood line or 100 meters.”
Due to the rapid increase of inflows into the #VaalDam, a fifth sluice gate has been opened at 10h00 this morning to manage water levels that have increased overnight as a result of the ongoing rainfall in the Vaal River catchment. pic.twitter.com/RZHHMyURzm
— Water&SanitationRSA (@DWS_RSA) April 6, 2025
The Department of Water and Sanitation in the Free State says water levels in the province’s storage dams were at 92.4% capacity overall as recorded a week ago. There have been even more rains since.
Water Affairs Spokesperson Larry Crisp says the Bloemhof and Edmont dams are standing at over 100%.
“It should be noted that in the Vaal Dam there are current discharges due to the high volumes, and residents should take note that also in Bloemhof Dam, it is currently at 107% and there are discharges to the downstream. Residents living close to dams and rivers should always take precautions and listen out for any warnings issued by the municipalities and or the emergency services in the area. As always, the Department of Water and Sanitation encourages residents not to waste water.”
Additional Reporting Ishmael Modiba
