Riverlands in the Clear: No Evacuation Needed After Prompt Response Eases Dam Failure Risk

In a reassuring move by the Department of Water and Sanitation, the residents of Riverlands, located within the Swartlands Local Municipality, have been informed that the immediate risk of flooding has been mitigated, removing the need for evacuation. The situation, sparked by the breaching of three farm dams leading to substantial flooding and ample damage to property and infrastructure, led to hundreds receiving humanitarian aid amidst fears of a fourth dam succumbing to the same fate.

In the wake of these events, the department acted quickly to prevent another possible disaster. Personnel from the Clanwilliam Dam project were dispatched to manage the fourth dam’s structural integrity, a crucial move to safeguard the community against further damage. They successfully increased the flow of water through a specially crafted spillway, intended to reduce the stress on the dam's structure by lowering water levels by at least one meter each day.

The community was on edge when, on Tuesday, water began flowing faster than predicted through this spillway. However, their worries were dispelled by the department's timely update, confirming that the risk had been curtailed. The fourth dam is now almost empty, which means that rising river levels should start to subside. The department has made it clear that, in the light of this development, the dam would no longer pose a risk even if there was to be further heavy rainfall, as it could not accumulate water to the extent that it would threaten the partially compromised wall.

This effective crisis management showcases the importance of rapid and calculated responses to potential natural disasters and has undoubtedly saved the Riverlands community from further hardship. Thanks to the decisive actions taken by the Department of Water and Sanitation, residents can now focus on recovering from the previous flooding without the looming threat of another evacuation.