Hardap sluices open again

THE sluices of the Hardap Dam, 20 kilometres north of Mariental, were again opened on Saturday after heavy rains in its catchment area had increased the reservoir’s level to 70,9 per cent.

The sluices were closed at 19h00 the same day when the reservoir’s level had decreased to 70 per cent following the release of 6,5 million cubic metres of water. According to NamWater spokesman John Shigweda, water was released at a rate of 200 cubic metres a second, with an inflow rate of 100 cubic metres a second.By noon yesterday the sluices were again opened, for the third time this month, after the dam level had increased to 71 per cent.To minimise the risk of an overflowing dam, NamWater is keeping the dam level at 70 per cent or below.Although fears of a repeat of the 2006 flood have receded, NamWater warned in a media statement last week that flood-prone areas of Mariental, including the nearby irrigation scheme, were still at risk of flood if continuous rains persisted in the dam’s catchment area.Flooding at Mariental occurred in 1962, 1972, 1989, 2000 and 2006.According to NamWater spokesman John Shigweda, water was released at a rate of 200 cubic metres a second, with an inflow rate of 100 cubic metres a second.By noon yesterday the sluices were again opened, for the third time this month, after the dam level had increased to 71 per cent.To minimise the risk of an overflowing dam, NamWater is keeping the dam level at 70 per cent or below.Although fears of a repeat of the 2006 flood have receded, NamWater warned in a media statement last week that flood-prone areas of Mariental, including the nearby irrigation scheme, were still at risk of flood if continuous rains persisted in the dam’s catchment area.Flooding at Mariental occurred in 1962, 1972, 1989, 2000 and 2006.