Dam levels dangerously low
05 February 2020 | Disasters
Dam levels in Namibia are reaching dangerously low levels, especially the Hardap, Omdel and Otjivero dams in the central area.
The average level of dams in the central area has dropped to 21%, with 34.6 million cubic metres of water in storage. At the same time last year the level stood at 25.7%.
The level of the Swakoppoort Dam is now only 5.1% while last season the dam was 20.4% full.
Von Bach is at 37.9%, in comparison to last season when the level stood at 49.8%.
The Omatako Dam is currently at 19.6% of its capacity, while last season it was at 0.8%.
The small Friedenau Dam west of Windhoek is at 20.1%. Last season the dam was 30.5% full.
In the south the level of one of Namibia's largest dams, the Hardap Dam, has dropped to 5.9%. Water supply to the Hardap irrigation scheme has been stopped and currently the dam is only supplying water for domestic use. Last season the level of the dam stood at 31.2%.
According to the dam bulletin transfers took place from the Otjivero Silt Dam to the Otjivero Main Dam and its level now stands at 7.9%. Last season the level was 4.6%
The Omdel (Omaruru River Delta) Dam is empty.
The average of all Namibia's dams is 20.3%, in comparison to last season when the dams were on average 31.2% full.
According to the daily river bulletin issued by the department of hydrological services, rain in the Kunene, Cuvelai, Okavango and Zambezi river catchments in Angola has meant that river levels are higher than the same time last year.
The Zambezi River level at Katima Mulilo is rising gradually and by Monday morning stood at 1.27 metres. The average river level for this time of the year is 1.65 metres.
The level of the Okavango River at Rundu stood at 5.56 metres on Monday and is above the average of 5.08 metres for this time of the year. The river level at Nkurenkuru is also rising and is currently at 3.11 metres.
“The flow at Ruacana in the Kunene River on Monday was 555.00 cubic metres per second and higher than the past three years,” the bulletin states.
The average level of dams in the central area has dropped to 21%, with 34.6 million cubic metres of water in storage. At the same time last year the level stood at 25.7%.
The level of the Swakoppoort Dam is now only 5.1% while last season the dam was 20.4% full.
Von Bach is at 37.9%, in comparison to last season when the level stood at 49.8%.
The Omatako Dam is currently at 19.6% of its capacity, while last season it was at 0.8%.
The small Friedenau Dam west of Windhoek is at 20.1%. Last season the dam was 30.5% full.
In the south the level of one of Namibia's largest dams, the Hardap Dam, has dropped to 5.9%. Water supply to the Hardap irrigation scheme has been stopped and currently the dam is only supplying water for domestic use. Last season the level of the dam stood at 31.2%.
According to the dam bulletin transfers took place from the Otjivero Silt Dam to the Otjivero Main Dam and its level now stands at 7.9%. Last season the level was 4.6%
The Omdel (Omaruru River Delta) Dam is empty.
The average of all Namibia's dams is 20.3%, in comparison to last season when the dams were on average 31.2% full.
According to the daily river bulletin issued by the department of hydrological services, rain in the Kunene, Cuvelai, Okavango and Zambezi river catchments in Angola has meant that river levels are higher than the same time last year.
The Zambezi River level at Katima Mulilo is rising gradually and by Monday morning stood at 1.27 metres. The average river level for this time of the year is 1.65 metres.
The level of the Okavango River at Rundu stood at 5.56 metres on Monday and is above the average of 5.08 metres for this time of the year. The river level at Nkurenkuru is also rising and is currently at 3.11 metres.
“The flow at Ruacana in the Kunene River on Monday was 555.00 cubic metres per second and higher than the past three years,” the bulletin states.
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