Vaal Dam reaches full capacity
JOHANNESBURG – The Water and Sanitation Department has confirmed that the Vaal Dam has reached full capacity, the highest it’s been in six years.
The dam has been rising steadily over the past few months, with levels reaching over 86% last week.
The recent heavy rains have pushed dam levels up to 100%.
The departments Sputnik Ratau says this is good news for Gauteng residents.
“Water restrictions in Gauteng will be lifted after the gazette by the department. Obviously the different municipalities will then be able to go back to their users to make sure that message goes through. What we want to caution is that we’d rather that the practice of water saving becomes second nature.”
On Sunday, Minister Nomvula Mokonyane opened two sluice gates at the Vaal Dam as water levels reached over 97%.
The minister said the recent rainfall has had a significant impact on the country’s dams.
Mokonyane said due to the current status of the Vaal Dam, water restrictions should be lifted in Gauteng.
The minister said while most provinces have shown ongoing water increases, the Western Cape, Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape did not benefit from the recent rains.