Dam levels boosted after week of rain

A WEEK of wet weather has had a major impact on the levels of Namibia’s main storage dams.

Countrywide, the cumulative levels of the 17 dams under control of the Namibia Water Corporation have increased from 42,4 per cent of total capacity on Monday last week to 63,3 per cent this week Monday, according to NamWater’s latest weekly dam bulletin. A year ago, this figure stood at 55,2 per cent.All five of the country’s largest dams received water during the week, with four of these now fuller than they were at this time last year.The Hardap Dam, which is Namibia’s largest reservoir, was still filled to 26,6 per cent of its capacity of 294 million cubic metres of water two weeks ago.On Monday last week, that dam’s level had risen to 44 per cent of its capacity, and by Monday this week, it had further risen to 67,8 per cent of capacity.The Hardap Dam has taken in some 121 million cubic metres of water in the past two weeks.A year ago, the Hardap Dam was 52,3 per cent full.The level of the Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop stood at 50,2 per cent of its capacity of 83,5 million cubic metres two weeks ago, 60,2 per cent on Monday last week, and 75,6 per cent this Monday.The Naute was 73,6 per cent full a year ago.The Swakoppoort Dam southwest of Okahandja was filled to 81,7 per cent of its 63,4 million cubic metres capacity a year ago.This Monday, that dam’s level was measured at 71,9 per cent of capacity, compared to 53,7 per cent a week earlier and 52,4 per cent two weeks ago.The level of the Von Bach Dam, also in the Okahandja area, stood at the 62,4 per cent mark on Monday.A year ago, this dam had been 57,3 per cent full.The dam’s level was at 56,3 per cent a week ago, and 51,4 per cent two weeks ago.The Omatako Dam, which also stores water for central Namibia, showed the most significant increase in its level over the past fortnight.From being 17 per cent full two weeks ago, the Omatako’s level rose to 37,3 per cent of capacity a week ago and 82,3 per cent on Monday this week.A year ago, this dam was 68,3 per cent full.The Von Bach Dam has a capacity of 48,5 million cubic metres.The Omatako Dam’s capacity is about 43,5 million cubic metres.In Windhoek, water has been flowing over the spillway of the Goreangab Dam this week, after this dam’s level rose to 107 per cent of its capacity on Monday.The Goreangab Dam’s level still stood at 72,5 per cent of capacity two weeks ago.A year ago, this dam was 97 per cent full.The Oanob Dam near Rehoboth was 77,8 per cent full on Monday this week, compared to a level of 58,9 per cent a week earlier and a level of 79,1 per cent a year ago.Most of the dams in the Gobabis area, however, are emptier now than they were a year ago.The Otjivero Main Dam was 37,3 per cent full on Monday (63,1 per cent a year ago), while the Otjivero Silt Dam stood at 6,5 per cent (5,9 per cent a year ago), the Tilda Viljoen Dam at 33,7 per cent (47,2 per cent a year ago), and the Daan Viljoen Dam at 2,4 per cent (8,2 per cent a year ago.) In the west, the level of the Omaruru Delta Dam stood at six per cent on Monday, compared to a level of 1,9 per cent a week earlier and an empty reading two weeks ago.The Omdel Dam, with a capacity of 37,5 million cubic metres, has taken in some 2,2 million cubic metres of water in the past fortnight.A year ago, this figure stood at 55,2 per cent.All five of the country’s largest dams received water during the week, with four of these now fuller than they were at this time last year.The Hardap Dam, which is Namibia’s largest reservoir, was still filled to 26,6 per cent of its capacity of 294 million cubic metres of water two weeks ago.On Monday last week, that dam’s level had risen to 44 per cent of its capacity, and by Monday this week, it had further risen to 67,8 per cent of capacity.The Hardap Dam has taken in some 121 million cubic metres of water in the past two weeks.A year ago, the Hardap Dam was 52,3 per cent full.The level of the Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop stood at 50,2 per cent of its capacity of 83,5 million cubic metres two weeks ago, 60,2 per cent on Monday last week, and 75,6 per cent this Monday.The Naute was 73,6 per cent full a year ago.The Swakoppoort Dam southwest of Okahandja was filled to 81,7 per cent of its 63,4 million cubic metres capacity a year ago.This Monday, that dam’s level was measured at 71,9 per cent of capacity, compared to 53,7 per cent a week earlier and 52,4 per cent two weeks ago.The level of the Von Bach Dam, also in the Okahandja area, stood at the 62,4 per cent mark on Monday.A year ago, this dam had been 57,3 per cent full.The dam’s level was at 56,3 per cent a week ago, and 51,4 per cent two weeks ago.The Omatako Dam, which also stores water for central Namibia, showed the most significant increase in its level over the past fortnight.From being 17 per cent full two weeks ago, the Omatako’s level rose to 37,3 per cent of capacity a week ago and 82,3 per cent on Monday this week.A year ago, this dam was 68,3 per cent full.The Von Bach Dam has a capacity of 48,5 million cubic metres.The Omatako Dam’s capacity is about 43,5 million cubic metres.In Windhoek, water has been flowing over the spillway of the Goreangab Dam this week, after this dam’s level rose to 107 per cent of its capacity on Monday.The Goreangab Dam’s level still stood at 72,5 per cent of capacity two weeks ago.A year ago, this dam was 97 per cent full.The Oanob Dam near Rehoboth was 77,8 per cent full on Monday this week, compared to a level of 58,9 per cent a week earlier and a level of 79,1 per cent a year ago.Most of the dams in the Gobabis area, however, are emptier now than they were a year ago.The Otjivero Main Dam was 37,3 per cent full on Monday (63,1 per cent a year ago), while the Otjivero Silt Dam stood at 6,5 per cent (5,9 per cent a year ago), the Tilda Viljoen Dam at 33,7 per cent (47,2 per cent a year ago), and the Daan Viljoen Dam at 2,4 per cent (8,2 per cent a year ago.) In the west, the level of the Omaruru Delta Dam stood at six per cent on Monday, compared to a level of 1,9 per cent a week earlier and an empty reading two weeks ago.The Omdel Dam, with a capacity of 37,5 million cubic metres, has taken in some 2,2 million cubic metres of water in the past fortnight.