Zuko Komisa
- The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is keeping all 10 Vaal Dam gates open and significantly increased releases from Bloemhof Dam due to continued high inflows.
- The releases are a critical dam safety measure to prevent overtopping, protecting both the dam infrastructure and communities downstream.
- Residents and farmers along the Vaal River are urgently warned to move livestock, equipment, and property to higher ground as overflowing riverbanks are expected.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) announced today that it is maintaining the current high-alert status across the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS) as sustained rainfall continues across the region.
All ten sluice gates at the Vaal Dam will remain open to manage high water volumes, while outflow from the Bloemhof Dam has been significantly increased to manage its rising level.
The decision comes as key dams in the system continue to hold water well above or near capacity:
- Vaal Dam: The dam is currently standing at 106.80% full.
- Bloemhof Dam: The level sits at 97.76%.
The department emphasised that keeping the sluice gates open is a standard operating procedure and a critical dam safety measure.
These controlled releases are vital for preventing the dam from overtopping, which could compromise the dam’s structural integrity and potentially lead to a disaster downstream.
The DWS remains on high alert and will continue real-time monitoring of inflows at both the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams.
“As the releases continue, from the Vaal and Bloemhof Dams, downstream areas may experience overflowing riverbanks, which could affect infrastructure located in low-lying zones of the floodplain,” the DWS stated.
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