Fourth sluice gate opened at Vaal Dam due to increased inflows

The water level of the Vaal Dam has increased slightly, according to officials monitoring the water resource that supplies Gauteng.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has now opened a fourth sluice gate at the Vaal Dam due to the increased inflows as a result of the ongoing rainfall in the Vaal River catchment.

The sluice gate was opened at 10am on Saturday morning. The current water storage levels at the dam are at 107.82%.

Increase outflows

DWS spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said the opening of the sluice gate will increase the outflows from 400 to approximately 550 cubic metres per second (mᵌ/s).

“The current water releases by the four sluice gates are still within the safe operational limits and are not expected to lead to overtopping of riverbanks downstream.”

*Tue 1 Apr, 2025*

The FMFS team recommends that a third sluice gate be opened at Vaal Dam from 12h00 pm.

This measure is intended to accommodate the increased inflows from upstream. The estimated outflows will increase to approx 400 cumecs. pic.twitter.com/FY5Yce4SvN

— 🔞 SA911 (@Zulu72944051488) April 1, 2025

ALSO READ: Vaal Dam level drops slightly as third sluice gate remains open

Warnings

However, Mavasa has issued a warning in case riverbanks swell with water.

“All those in the riparian of the Vaal River are encouraged to start removing valuable equipment, movable infrastructure and livestock to avoid any possible damage in case of the riverbanks swelling as a result of inflows from the tributaries.”

Other dam levels

Mavasa also shared an update on other dam levels.

“At Bloemhof Dam, storage levels have risen to 103.23%, and water releases will be staggered incrementally from the current 600mᵌ/s to 700m³/s at 10am; 800m³/s at 12pm; 900m³/s at 2pm and the last increase at 4pm to 1 000m³/.

“The increased outflows from Vaal Dam are expected to reach Bloemhof Dam in three to four days and will result in water levels rising at the Bloemhof and overtopping of the riverbanks. This will affect all those at the riverbanks downstream at the Lower Vaal catchment,” Mavasa said.

Mpumalanga

At Grootdraai Dam, in Mpumalanga, in the Upper Vaal River Catchment, upstream of Vaal Dam, one sluice gate remains open at two metres to enable the water release.

Mavasa said the dam is currently sitting at 102.06%.

“The department is implementing these necessary controlled water releases at the dams as part of dam safety precautions to safeguard infrastructure and ensure that there is full storage capacity after the rainfall season.”

Mavasa said the department is continuously monitoring the water levels in the Vaal River system.

ALSO READ: Vaal Dam sees major spike in 24 hours: Here’s how much it has gone up in the last week