The Kimberley Prospector

Boegoeberg Dam will be emptied from June 16 to 26 to allow for annual maintenance work. Significant work is set be done on the mechanical gates, slings and sluices.

BOEGOEBERG Dam will be emptied from June 16 to 26 to allow for annual maintenance work.

The acting spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation, Andile Tshona, said significant work would be done on the mechanical gates, slings and sluices.

“The maintenance work will include the fixing of four hydraulic sluices, the refurbishment of hydraulic cylinders and the replacement of flexible pipes,” said Tshona.

“This will result in an addition to the usual water release of the month of June, which is 81,833 cubic metres, adding a slight increase in the lower Orange River system. This slight increase will have a minimal impact on crop irrigation, as it is not a water-critical part of the year for the irrigation of crops.”

Tshona assured communities living downstream of the dam that their water supply would not be interrupted during the scheduled maintenance.

“The department has consulted extensively with all communities and water users in the Boegoeberg Water User Association (BWUA) area of operation, to be aware of the planned maintenance at the dam.

“The BWUA, working with stakeholders and ǃKheis Municipality, will ensure that communities along the river bank, including Topline, Karos, Leerkrans and Lambrechtsdrift, will have a water supply by blocking water in the canal; enough to last for the entire three weeks while maintenance work is being done.”

Tshona said that the Department of Water and Sanitation, working with the Disaster Cluster, would provide updates if any changes occur to the planned Boegoeberg Dam maintenance.

“We urge all farming communities along the river system to closely monitor their water pumps throughout this period. No fishing or swimming is allowed under these circumstances,” he added.

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