Water Conditions

Live dam levels & Vaal system gate alerts

DWS data updated 2026-06-01·Updated every Monday
National Average
96.9%
217 dams · 9 provinces
Total Capacity
29 334 Mm³
combined full storage
Dams Above 80%
192
of 217 monitored
Vaal Dam Gates
CLOSED
Season reporting closed

Vaal System — Gate & Discharge Operations

Season Closed

Vaal Dam

Gates Closed
StatusAll gates closed
Last gate closed19 May 2026 · 12:00
Current releaseValve discharge only
Flow rate≈ 16.7 m³/s
Dam level106.1%
Safe conditions for bank anglers downstream. Season reporting closed — gates will remain shut until next significant rainfall event.

Bloemhof Dam

Controlled
StatusControlled release
Current discharge250 m³/s
Last notice19 May 2026
Previous700 m³/s (12 May)
Dam level104.6%
Discharge stepping down steadily since January. Exercise caution near banks on the Vaal below Bloemhof — elevated but stable and falling.

Angler Safety — Vaal River Sections

Safe
Vaal Dam → Barrage
Valve only · ~16.7 m³/s · Ideal for bank fishing
Caution
Barrage → Bloemhof
250 m³/s controlled · Elevated but stable
Caution
Below Bloemhof → Confluence
Downstream release · Stay clear of deep channels
Safe
Harts River
Normal levels · No active operations

Dam Levels — Western Cape

Weighted avg
71.2%
Total FSC
1869 Mm³
Dams shown
44
Above 80%
33
Below 50%
4
Overflow >100%Full 80–100%Good 60–80%Low 30–60%Critical <30%
Dam RiverFSC (Mm³) This Week Last WkLast Yrvs Last Yr
Theewaterskloof DamRiviersonderend River479,3
73.3%
72.2%60.4%12.9%
Brandvlei DamLower Brandvlei River286,1
45.7%
45%43.6%2.1%
Kwaggaskloof DamDoorn River169,5
45.1%
44.4%43.1%2%
Voelvlei DamVoelvlei River158,6
59.6%
59.1%58.3%1.3%
Berg River DamBerg River127,1
75.9%
77.1%67.2%8.7%
Clanwilliam DamOlifants River122,5
81.9%
82.4%28%53.9%
Wemmershoek DamWemmers River58,8
96.7%
95.3%53.2%43.5%
Floriskraal DamBuffels River46,7
101%OVF
101.6%55.7%45.3%
Stompdrift DamOlifants River46,3
101.7%OVF
103.9%77.2%24.5%
Gamkapoort DamGamka River35,8
102.5%OVF
107.3%55.4%47.1%
Kammanassie DamKammanassie River34,4
101.7%OVF
102.6%78.6%23.1%
Steenbras-Lower DamSteenbras River33,9
50.7%
51.4%40.3%10.4%
Steenbras-Upper DamSteenbras River31,9
81.2%
79.7%88.9%7.7%
Eikenhof DamPalmiet River28,9
101.3%OVF
102.1%45.3%56%
Wolwedans DamGroot Brak River24,7
100.3%OVF
100.4%99.2%1.1%
Ceres DamKoekedou River17,3
62%
62%56.3%5.7%
Stettynskloof DamHolsloot River14,8
100%
100.5%42.1%57.9%
Leeugamka DamLeeu River13,5
100.3%OVF
101.3%50.8%49.5%
Garden Route DamSwart River12,5
90.2%
90.5%91.2%1%
Elandskloof DamElands River11
93%
93.6%30.8%62.2%
Lakenvallei DamSanddrifskloof River10,5
100.1%OVF
100.1%91.5%8.6%
Keerom DamNuy River9,8
88.4%
88.4%84.3%4.1%
Poortjieskloof DamGroot River9,8
96%
95.3%81.3%14.7%
Korentepoort DamKorinte River8,1
60.8%
60.3%94.8%34%
Roode Els Berg DamSanddrifskloof River7,8
97.6%
96.7%26.6%71%
Hartebeestkuil DamHartenbos River7,2
55.5%
55.5%70.4%14.9%
Duiwenhoks DamDuiwenhoks River6,2
100.2%OVF
100.3%100.1%0.1%
De Bos DamOnrus River5,8
95.3%
94.4%73%22.3%
Misverstand DamBerg River5,7
114.1%OVF
115.9%113.5%0.6%
Calitzdorp DamNels River4,9
100.3%OVF
100.4%61.4%38.9%
Bulshoek DamOlifants River4,9
46.6%
93.7%82.9%36.3%
Haarlem DamGroot River4,7
100.4%OVF
101.5%70.4%30%
Buffeljags DamBuffeljags River4,6
100.8%OVF
101.1%100.7%0.1%
Klipheuwel DamTributary — Hartenbos River4,5
20.5%
20.8%29.9%9.4%
Bellair DamBrak River4,3
92.5%
92.5%85.2%7.3%
Oukloof DamCordiers River4,3
100.4%OVF
101%89.1%11.3%
Prinsrivier DamPrins River2,3
98.3%
98.3%44.4%53.9%
Roodefontein DamPiesang River2
99.5%
100%59%40.5%
Klipberg DamKonings River2
82.6%
81.3%53.4%29.2%
Pietersfontein DamPietersfontein River2
100.3%OVF
100.5%79.6%20.7%
Gamka DamGamka River1,8
100.3%OVF
100.8%50.3%50%
Miertjieskraal DamBrand River1,5
99.8%
99.8%63.8%36%
Ernest Robertson DamGroot Brak River0,5
100%
100%84.4%15.6%
Tierkloof DamTrib. — Seweweekspoort River0,1
100%
100%93.5%6.5%

Dam name links to venue page · FSC = Full Storage Capacity · Source: DWS Weekly State of Dams

Gate Notice History

View on VB Hydrology →
19 May 2026Vaal DamLatest

Close the one (1) gate at 12:00.

19 May 2026BloemhofLatest

Maintain the discharge at 250m³/s.

17 May 2026Vaal Dam

Keep one (1) gate open.

17 May 2026Bloemhof

Reduce the discharge to 250m³/s at 10:00.

12 May 2026Vaal Dam

Keep one (1) gate open.

12 May 2026Bloemhof

Reduce the discharge to 700m³/s at 10:00.

Data sourced from DWS Hydrological Services and VB Hydrology (DWS Comms). Updated weekly every Monday. CastZone does not warrant the accuracy of DWS data — always exercise caution near water.