Hardap Dam sluices still open

THE Hardap Dam’s sluice gates remain open after they were opened on Wednesday to relieve the water pressure in the dam following downpours in its catchment area.

The sluices were opened after the dam level reached 71,3 per cent. On Saturday NamWater also had to open the sluices after the dam level exceeded 70 per cent. NamWater is maintaining the dam level at 70 per cent to lessen the risk of a flood in the event of heavy rainfalls in the Hardap area. Yesterday afternoon the dam level stood at 70,4 per cent. The Mariental Town Council Head of Protection Services, Hendrik Meyer, yesterday said the water was released at a rate of 300 cubic metres per second. The water inflow was 150 cubic metres per second.The western part of Mariental was flooded in 2006 when the Hardap Dam’s sluices were opened after the dam had started to spill over. The town was also flooded in 2000 and in 1972. Despite an effective early-warning system to alert residents about a possible evacuation, many residents still fear a repeat of the 2006 flood. They are worried about the carrying capacity of the downstream Fish River if the water outflow is more than 500 cubic metres per second.They have also expressed concern over dead reeds in the riverbed, which might restrict water flow and lead to the river bursting its banks. The reeds were sprayed with weed killer but not removed.luqman@namibian.com.na