Vaal Dam over 100% full for the first time since 2017
13th 14th February 2021 Scores of visitors cause traffic jams in the sleepy town of Deneysville.
Over the weekend cars queued on the road past the Dam wall in order to view
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) released water from the Vaal Dam on Thursday morning to control water levels in the over-full dam.
The initial analysis indicated a need for the opening of three gates, but the possibility exists that it could be four.
Spokesperson for the department, Sputnik Ratau, says they have observed activities in the Mozambican Channel, which shows that more rainfall is expected to fill the dam.
“These flows and weather forecasts have necessitated the initiation of a flood control release from the Vaal.
“As the Vaal Dam has already breached the 100% mark to float at 103.5%, any further rapid inflows especially as current indications are concerned with regard to the developing system in the Mozambican Channel, with the likelihood of it delivering more rain in the Upper Vaal, have impressed upon the DWS hydrologists to relook at the management of the Vaal Dam in this way,” says Ratau.
He says warnings have been issued to people who reside downstream.
13th 14th February 2021 Scores of visitors cause traffic jams in the sleepy town of Deneysville.
Over the weekend cars queued on the road past the Dam wall in order to view the opened flood gates. Many of the visitors then explored the town of Deneysville looking for refreshments. One of the more popular eateries was Tasha’s on Main which is not only a bistro type establishment but also an arts and crafts gallery.
