The Senteeko Dam near Barberton recorded a drop in water levels and a decrease in spillway erosion as of Sunday, January 25.

The De Kaap Irrigation Board said that personnel from the community property association (CPA) are currently on site monitoring the situation.

The dam safety officer and the approved professional person will conduct another site visit on Monday, January 26, to assess conditions, determine the way forward, and develop a plan of action.

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“We have deployed a CPA team with a TLB on site; however, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has requested that an excavator be mobilised as soon as possible. We are in the process of dispatching one,” said the board.

According to DWS spokesperson Wisane Mavasa, an emergency safety assessment conducted by the department’s Dam Safety Office confirmed on January 23 that the spillway structure has suffered severe and irreversible deterioration, including advanced erosion and undercutting, leading to structural instability.

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“The dam is collapsing, and failure may occur without warning.

An uncontrolled release of water is likely and poses an immediate and serious threat to downstream communities, infrastructure, and the environment,” said Mavasa.

“If it collapses, it will not impact the agricultural economy of the valley but will have a serious effect on the economic viability of the Senteeko farm.”