As dam levels remain high following heavy rains and floods in KwaZulu-Natal, two of the province\u2019s dam levels remain on the radar of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).<\/p>\n
The department said it has prioritised maintenance at Ntshingwayo and Pongolapoort Dams to prevent overflow.<\/p>\n
Department spokesperson, Sputnik Ratau, said Ntshingwayo Dam, with the town of Newcastle being the closest, is currently at 82% of its capacity.<\/p>\n
He said the release from the dam now is at 23.43 cumecs (cubic metre per second, as a unit of rate of flow of water), which is in line with the 80% operating rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second dam on the DWS radar is Pongolapoort Dam, famously known as Jozini Dam, is currently at 86%. According to the 85% operating rule for the dam, the DWS should be releasing 38 m?\/s but 20 m?\/s (cubic meter per second) is being released currently,\u201d Ratau said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The lower release, Ratau said, is to allow for the security of the infrastructure, while downstream communities have been informed accordingly.<\/p>\n
\u201cCommunication to communities downstream is essential as it ensures the protection of lives and livelihoods. Once that communication is done and people are in the light, there is a possibility of the release from Pongolapoort Dam to be raised to the required 38 cumecs.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll sleeve valves are available to release the required amount of water. However, it should be noted that the river will overflow when the release of 38m?\/s and thus the importance of communication to communities downstream who may be flooded if this happens without notice,\u201d Ratau said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Vaal Dam opened one sluice gate this morning and another in the afternoon, bringing the total number of sluice gates opened at the Vaal to seven. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Source: South African Government News Agency<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As dam levels remain high following heavy rains and floods in KwaZulu-Natal, two of the province\u2019s dam levels remain on the radar of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).The department said it has prioritised maintenance at Ntshingwayo and Pong…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n