Vaal Dam- 2 more sluices opened yesterday / Nog 2 sluise oop gemaak

Two more sluice gates to be opened at Vaal Dam yesterday

It is expected that a third sluice gate will be opened at 10H00 today (January 3, 2022) and a fourth at 11H00. The Vaal Dam level currently stands at 110.41%.

The Vaal Dam as it looked yesterday, 2 January 2022, behind the dam wall. Photo: Monique Grayson

Mrs Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA), this morning informed concerned parties that the outflow from Vaal Dam will be increased by the opening of two more sluice gates.

The Vaal Dam as it looked yesterday, 2 January 2022, behind the dam wall. Photos: Monique Grayson

Currently only two gates are open but the implications of opening two more today, will considerably add to the flow, so anyone with their boat moored at their jetties would probably need to strengthen their boats’ moorings. “If it is easy to take your boat out – that might be safer, advises Mrs Anderson.

Also Read: Local Dam Levels

With two additional gates open at Vaal Dam, the outflow will be about 600m3/s 9tbc by DWS). Add to that the Klip- and Suikerbos Rivers’ flow into the Barrage it probably means another 100-200m3/s

“At worst case this is 800 m3/s through the Barrage, which is about maximum capacity before the level will start to rise,” says Mrs Anderson.

Watch:

At 600m3/s it means that an Olympic size swimming pool is released from Vaal Dam every 4 seconds.
It is expected that a third sluice gate will be opened at 10H00 today (January 3, 2022) and a fourth at 11H00. The Vaal Dam level currently stands at 110.41%.

Article by  Retha Fitchat and originally appeared in the Vaalweekblad

Vol, voller, volste – Vaaldam

Op 3 Januarie 2022 was die Vaaldam amptelik 110.4% vol. Huise en erwe by die dam is onder water.

Wanneer die Vaaldam oorloop en die hele erf oorspoel. Foto geneem op 3 Januarie 2022 deur Marina Smit

DENEYSVILLE. – Marina Smit van Hartebeesfontein net buite Deneysville sê die Vaaldam het al van voor Kersfees af nader aan hul huis begin opstoot. Op Kersdag het die water onder die heining begin borrel, maar was darem nog ‘n entjie van die swembad en huis af.

Op Kersdag het die Vaaldam se water onder die heining begin deurkom. Foto: Marina Smit

Op 3 Januarie het sy weer foto’s geneem van hul erf. Die swembad is nie meer in sig nie, en die water het die huis ingespoel. Sy was verlig om te hoor dat daar ekstra sluise by die Vaaldam oopgetrek is. “Nou kan ons huis weer leegloop,” het sy gesê.

Lees ook: Local Dam Levels

Volgens amptelike syfers van die Departement van Water en Sanitasie het die Vaaldam se vlakke op 110.4% gestaan op Maandagoggend, 3 Januarie 2022.

Dit het hul genoodsaak om twee verdere kruinsluise oop te maak, die eerste om 10:00 en die tweede een om 11:00. Daar is nou vier sluise oop.

Sputnik Ratau, Direkteur Mediaverhoudinge van die Departement van Water en Sanitasie het gesê die departement monitor die situasie deurentyd. Hewige reën in die Vaaldam se opvangsgebied het die damvlak drasties laat styg.

Kyk:

Hy het ook ‘n waarskuwing uitgereik dat mense nie kanse moet vat om laagliggende brûe oor te steek nie. Boere en gemeenskappe wat stroomaf geleë is, is gewaarsku teen moontlike vloede.

Deur Gerda Bruinette en het oorspronklik in die Vaalweekblad verskyn