Hardap sluices opened
NamWater opened the Hardap Dam sluices just after 14:00 after the dam level reached close to 70% following heavy rains in recent days.
The sluices were opened at a release rate of 200 cubic metres per second, with possible increases of up to 400 cubic metres per second predicted. The decision to open the sluices was made as a precaution after NamWater stations calculated that inflows were expected to increase to 350m³ per second earlier today.
The dam level was at 68% of capacity when the sluice gates were opened and was expected to rise to 73% later this afternoon. In mid-January the dam level had stood at 35.4%.
Following the 2006 Mariental floods, the dam level has not been allowed to exceed 70%.
Currently the town faces no danger of flooding. Flooding only occurs if more than 500 cubic metres second is released.
NamWater is keeping a close eye rainfall in the Ai-Ais area, which is the catchment of the Naute Dam.
Jana-Mari Smith
The sluices were opened at a release rate of 200 cubic metres per second, with possible increases of up to 400 cubic metres per second predicted. The decision to open the sluices was made as a precaution after NamWater stations calculated that inflows were expected to increase to 350m³ per second earlier today.
The dam level was at 68% of capacity when the sluice gates were opened and was expected to rise to 73% later this afternoon. In mid-January the dam level had stood at 35.4%.
Following the 2006 Mariental floods, the dam level has not been allowed to exceed 70%.
Currently the town faces no danger of flooding. Flooding only occurs if more than 500 cubic metres second is released.
NamWater is keeping a close eye rainfall in the Ai-Ais area, which is the catchment of the Naute Dam.
Jana-Mari Smith
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article