The Department of Water and Sanitation has reported a rapid increase in inflows into the Vaal Dam, prompting the opening of a fifth sluice gate to manage the escalating water levels.

Vaalweekblad reports the department has advised people living near the Vaal Dam and river to remove valuable equipment, livestock and movable infrastructure from potential flood zones to mitigate any risk of loss or damage.

To prevent an overflow, a fifth sluice gate was opened at 10:00. This follows the opening of the fourth sluice gate just 24 hours earlier.

The increased water levels are likely to cause widespread flooding, endangering both lives and property.

In the Vaal, the outflows from the Vaal Dam are already causing problems at the Barrage.

Water and Sanitation spokesperson Wisane Mavasa warned the increased outflows could result in the riverbanks downstream overflowing, which would affect infrastructure situated in low-lying areas within the 100-year floodplain or within 100m of the river.

The risk of flooding is particularly high for communities in areas around the Vaal Triangle, Parys and low-lying areas near the river, as well as for farmers with infrastructure and pumps positioned along the river.

As of yesterday, the water storage levels in the dam were at 107.82%. By this morning, those levels had surged to 109.39%.

The outflow from the dam will increase from 550 cubic metres per second (m³/s) to just under 700m³/s.

The inflow into the dam is currently at 1000m³/s.

These increased releases from the dam are expected to raise the water levels in both the Vaal Dam and the river, potentially overtopping riverbanks and impacting surrounding areas.

At the Vaal Barrage seven gates are open with an outflow of 543.5m³/s.

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