Bloemhof Dam open more sluice gates as water levels rise
The Department of Water and Sanitation has opened more sluice gates at the Bloemhof Dam with water levels rising rapidly from the inflow from upstream Vaal River increases.
The Department says the outflow at the Bloemhof Dam increased to 3800 cubic metres per second on Wednesday afternoon.
“Communities along the Vaal River System are continuously reminded to stay alert and move away from rising water in the river and around the dams,” says the Department.
The department's acting Deputy Director-General for Water Infrastructure, Leonardo Manus, says the dam level is too high and needs to be lowered.
“We will not be reducing the outflow by closing the gates as yet, because the dam level is still too high and needs to be lowered quickly to open more flood absorption capacity,” he explains.
“The water outflow will be reviewed in few days as it will be determined by the inflow into the river system, but as of now the water levels are still high and the water discharge from the dam will continue.”
Meanwhile, the 12 sluice gates at the Vaal Dam remain open to allow the water levels in the dams to be at its required capacity.
The Vaal dam is currently 119% full.
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