By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has opened six valves at the Vaal Dam to gradually increase water outflows by another 200 cubic metres per second (mᵌ/s).
The opening of six valves at 12pm on Monday is in addition to the single sluice gate that was opened last week, as water levels at the dam continue to rise.
The water level at the Vaal dam is currently at 107.43%.
The DWS further increased the water releases from the Bloemhof dam by 50 mᵌ/s to 400 mᵌ/s to allow for the extra flows that are expected from the Vaal dam. This followed the increase to 350.97 mᵌ/s over the weekend.
Water levels at the dam are currently at 99.97% and the aim is to keep it at below 100%.
The current water release by the one sluice gate, the six valves and the pipes at Bloemhof is within the safe operational limits and is not expected to lead to overtopping of riverbanks downstream, the DWS assured.