Rainfall brings slight dam relief

AFTER an extended spell of excessive heat and soaring temperatures across Namibia with midday maximums in the mid-forties in the sun, relief came on New Year’s Eve with the start of welcome and copious rains.

The system, preceded by a drop in pressure, moved in from southern Angola and has caused good downpours across the country.The rainfall has permitted inflows into some of the country’s dams with the Windhoek area, according to the latest bulletin from NamWater, registering 1,025 million cubic metres inflow in all the dams except the Swakoppoort. Von Bach now holds 78,4 per cent of capacity compared to 85,8 per cent last year. Goreangab stands at 101,3 per cent whereas it held 94,1 per cent last year this time. The Hardap Dam took 2,995 million cubic metres and is now at 52,5 per cent. The Fish River and its tributaries do not need a lot of rain for flows to start and after small downpours Hardap invariably registers intake. The South registered the highest intake of 2,742 million cubic metres, the disparity caused by losses at Naute and Dreihuk Dams. Oanob Dam recorded an intake of 0,311 million cubic metres.Of concern, however, is the lack of activity in the Gobabis region. No tangible intakes were recorded and Otjivero Main holds 61,4 per cent compared to 87,8 per cent last year. Tilda Viljoen, fed by Otjivero, currently holds 70,9 per cent compared to 66 per cent last year. The Daan Viljoen Dam registered a measly intake of 0,002 million cubic metres and currently stands at 3,2 per cent of capacity.In summary then, Windhoek holds 62,5 per cent (67,7 per cent in 2008), Gobabis has 39 per cent of capacity (51,6 per cent in 2008), the South looks better than last year (56,2 per cent) at 57,8 per cent and the country as a whole currently has 54,6 per cent of capacity as compared to 54,8 per cent in 2008. Total inflows since December 28 were recorded at 3,698 million cubic metres.According to the meteorological office at Hosea Kutako, the wet weather will hold until the end of this week, with flood warnings for the North and high rainfall figures expected.