Communities have been urged to move to higher ground as 12 floodgates remain open at the Vaal Dam.
VAAL DAM: Communities urged to move to higher ground
Communities have been urged to move to higher ground as 12 floodgates remain open at the Vaal Dam.
Communities have been urged to move to higher ground as 12 floodgates remain open at the Vaal Dam.
Communities members in settlements and towns along the banks of the Lower Vaal Dam and Lower Orange Rivers should consider evacuating to higher ground.
COMMUNITIES ALONG THE VAAL DAM BANKS MUST EVACUATE
These communities should refer to municipal development plans, Local Authorities, and Disaster Management Agencies for locations of these flood lines.
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This warning comes after 12 floodgates remained open at Vaal Dam on Sunday, 19 February 2023, due to heavy rain, and outflow at the Bloemhof Dam has been increased to 3 000 cubic meters per second.
Wisane Mavasa, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, says the water release increases are necessitated by the continuous and intense rainfall that is causing rivers to overflow and dams to spill.
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FARMERS URGE TO MOVE LIVESTOCK TO HIGHER GROUND
Mavasa urges communities at the lower banks of the Vaal Dam to evacuate. She encourages residents to move to a level to be safe from the water emanating from the releases.
The department also urges farmers to remove livestock, movable properties, and equipment from the riverbanks. People should avoid activities that may cause them harm.
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VAAL DAM EXPERIENCE RISING WATER LEVELS
According to Mavasa, the Vaal Dam and Orange River System are experiencing rapidly rising water levels due to heavy rains.
“The department continues to assess and implement measures to mitigate the effects of these floods on its infrastructure and guarantee the total capacity of its storage reservoirs after the rainfall season.”
Wisane Mavasa
To acquire reliable information about the current flooding status, the department has flood monitoring and forecasting systems in place. This provides real-time data on rainfall, river, and dam level.
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The department advises against putting essential services and human settlements within parts of the floodplains where there is the likelihood of frequent flooding, that is, within a 1 in 100-year flood line.
The department again appeals to communities along the lower river banks of the Vaal Dam to evacuate to high ground.
