Water level at Spioenkop Dam rising
The level of the dam is checked on a daily basis and has shown a close to 10% increase since the beginning of the year
Rainfall this year has picked up the water levels at Spioenkop Dam, which will bring relief to the residents of Ladysmith and surrounding areas.
Rumours on social media and talk around town that fallen trees were blocking the sluice gates of the dam and water was let out of the dam are not true. If these rumours were true, the dam levels would have decreased and not increased. Spioenkop Dam doesn’t have sluice gates, but rather a sleeve valve which has to be manually opened for water to be released.
At the beginning of the year, on January 1, the water level was sitting at 52.8%. The current level, which was checked this morning (January 24), shows the dam to be 62% full. That means the water level has picked up close to 10% in about three weeks.
The level of the dam is checked on a daily basis.
The dam isn’t full, but the rain that has fallen has helped tremendously. If rain continues to fall, the water level in the dam will continue to rise.
Breathing a sigh of relief could be premature, but matters are certainly looking up when it comes to the town’s water affairs!
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