Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
GENERAL WATER SITUATION TIME 12:00 16 FEBRUARY 1996 ----------------------
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry issues the following flood warnings in the interest of public safety. Although the rain has stopped in many places, there is still danger of flooding. The public should keep themselves informed of rising river levels and prepare for possible flooding. All emergency services are still on full alert.
DRAINAGE REGION: VAAL
DAM INFLOW LEVEL DISCHARGE RAINFALL m3/s % m3/s mm Grootdraai 640 102 990 - Vaal 3 400 103 2 100 - Bloemhof 2 000 88 2 150 1.0
Remarks ------- Vaal Dam: --------- People living in low lying areas downstream of the Vaal Dam are advised to evacuate to higher ground as the flood level of the Vaal River can rise another two metres. The Suikerbosrand and the Klip Rivers, near Vereeniging, are two tributaries of the Vaal River and they are flowing at a combined rate of 400 m3/s. In view of the present situation one gate has been closed at 09:00 this morning and another gate will be closed at 16:00. The gates will be closed during the day to keep the discharge lower than 2 200 m3/s. The situation will be re-assessed later this afternoon and again at 09:00 on Saturday morning. Water flows into the Vaal Dam at a rate of 3 400 m3/s and is expected to reach a flow rate of approximately 4 200 m3/s to minimise flood damage downstream of the Vaal Dam. The flow rate at the barr4age was measured 2 800 m3/s at 07:00 this morning.
Bloemhof Dam: ------------- Discharge at the Bloemhof Dam takes place at a rate of 2 150 m3/s. At this rate no major problems are expected, but people should be alert to changes in the levels of dams and rivers. The level in the Vaal River downstream of the Bloemhof Dam will be higher than that of two weeks earlier, which was at a flow rate of 1 600 m3/s.
DRAINAGE REGION: LETABA/OLIFANTS & LIMPOPO
Many of the rivers mentioned below are international rivers and the floods will impact on Mozambique. South African hydrologists have warned their counterparts in Mozambique of the impending floods at the beginning of the week.
DAM INFLOW LEVEL DISCHARGE RAINFALL m3/s % m3/s mm
Loskop - 114 - - Ebenezer - 50 - - Magoebaskloof - 103 - - Middel-Letaba - 74 - - Tzaneen - 45 - - Arabie - 140 - - Nzhelele - 100 - - Albasini - 25 - - Vondo - 102 - - Luphephe - 104 - - Nwanedzi - 104 - - Mokolo 430 107 - - Witbank - 94 - - Blyderivier - 106 236 -
Remarks: -------- At Mica, the last gauging station in the Olifants River, approximately 2 900 m3/s was measured at 07:00. The flow rate decreased from 3 100 m3/s to 2 900 m3/s since late yesterday.
DRAINAGE REGION: KWAZULU/NATAL
DAM INFLOW LEVEL DISCHARGE RAINFALL m3/s % m3/s mm
Hluhluwe - 103 31 nil Spioenkop - 105 202 3 Goedertrouw - 74 - nil Chelmsford - 102 51 11
Remarks: -------- The Mooi River has a flow rate of 155 m3/s. At the gauging station 4,0 mm rain was measured. The situation in KwaZulu/Natal is stable at the moment.
ENQUIRIES: VAAL RIVER SYSTEM MARIE ASHPOLE: TEL: (012) 299 2526 (w) (011) 805 2571 (h) CEL: 082 807 3547 ANTOINETTE PIETERSEN: TEL: (012) 299 3313 (w) (012) 663 3068 (h) CEL: 082 458 0244
LETABA / OLIFANTS / LIMPOPO MR RENS BOTHA TEL: (012) 672 2961 (w) (012) 71 4565 (h)
KWAZULU/NATAL MR JOE HANSMANN TEL: (031) 306 1367 (w) (031) 86 4935 (w) MR PERKINS: TEL: (031) 306 1367 (w) (031) 84 9509 (h)