Gamtoos Water

Gamtoos Water We are a water user association based in the Gamtoos River Valley in the Eastern Cape.

It is Friday and the workshop is busy. Mondplaas dam needs a new isolation valve. I am proud of these mens' work ethic...
28/08/2026

It is Friday and the workshop is busy. Mondplaas dam needs a new isolation valve.

I am proud of these mens' work ethic!

Vrydag en die werkswinkel is besig. Mondplaasdam moet 'n nuwe afsnykraan kry en daar word voorbereiding gedoen.

Ek is trots op hierdie manne se werksetiek.

ONNODIGE FIETE / UNNECCESARY INFORMATION

Since the 7th of May 876 079 cubic meters of water spilled over the Kouga damwall. It equates to filling Kouga dam 6.95 times. The water spilling on the 7th and 8th of May could have filled Kouga 3.5 times.

Sedert die 7nde May het 876 079 kubieke meter water oor die Kougadam geloop. Dit is sou Kouga dam 6.95 keer gevul het. Die water wat oor die damwal geloop het op die 7nde en 8ste sou Kouga 3.5 keer gevul het.

Kouga dam 100.31%, spilling at 4 000 cumec.
Stuurmanskraal is running at 3 600 cumec.
Groot rivier weir is running at 1 860 cumec.
Beervlei is spilling at 1 005 cumec.
Loerie dam 73.60%,
The Metro abstracted 65Ml
46Ml was released into Loerie dam.

WE ARE NOT ALONE....... WHAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GAMTOOS, AS THE DAM OPERATOR ON THE 7TH OF MAY?A catagory 3 dam,...
21/08/2026

WE ARE NOT ALONE....... WHAT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GAMTOOS, AS THE DAM OPERATOR ON THE 7TH OF MAY?
A catagory 3 dam, such as Kouga has an EPP (Emergency Preparedness Plan), which is executed the moment there is a reasonable expectation of flooding.

This plan was excecuted on the 7th of May. One of the main responsibilities was to inform the custodian of the dam, DWS. Regional and national DWS were informed on an hourly basis untill the volume in the system started to decrease and the risk was down graded to an acceptable level.

All local authorities were informed and a Joint Operational Committee was established by Kouga Municipality.

ONS IS NIE ALLEEN NIE...... WAT WAS GAMTOOS WATER SE VERANTWOORDELIKHEID AS DAMOPERATEUR OP DIE 7ND MEI?

'n Kategorie 3 dam soos Kouga het 'n noodplan. Die oomblik as daar 'n vermoede is van 'n vloed, kom dit inwerking.

Hierdie plan is uitgevoer van die oomblik toe ons bewus geword het dat die dam oorloop. Die belangrikste party, DWS is in kennis gestel en daar is op 'n uurlikse basis met hulle gekommunikeer tot die water begin sak het en die risiko minder was.

Kouga Munisipaliteit, as ons plaaslike owerheid, het 'n komitee gevorm om die risiko van lewensverlies te handteer.

Kouga dam 100.40%, spilling at 5 980 litre per second.
Groot rivier weir is running at 2 590 litre per second.
Loerie dam 74.8%.
22Ml was released into Loerie
67Ml was abstracted

We are reposting this photo taken by Edwill Moore on the 12th of May of the Condomo weir. In the next few posts we will...
19/08/2026

We are reposting this photo taken by Edwill Moore on the 12th of May of the Condomo weir. In the next few posts we will share relevant information. You will see the 2026 flood line indicated on the structure.

The Department of Water and Sanitation are the custodians of Kouga dam. Gamtoos Water is the operator for DWS. There are three loggers informing DWS and GW of water levels. We all have access to a platform where we obtain this information.

The weirs were built and are maintained by DWS. We assist with the maintenance. They are: Stuurmanskraal, Condomo and Kouga dam wall. Measuring weirs need to conform to certain criteria. Water from the Suurveld and Baviaans are only measured at the dam wall.

The level of the Condomo weir was 3 meters higher than the measuring plates during the May floods. That is extraordinary. DWS replaced the logger by 12 May.

Kouga dam 100.44%, running at 7 000 litre per second.
Groot rivier weir running at 2 920 litre per second.

This is the measuring weir at Stuurmanskraal, 70km from the Kouga damwall. The photo's were taken at the beginning of J...
14/08/2026

This is the measuring weir at Stuurmanskraal, 70km from the Kouga damwall. The photo's were taken at the beginning of June after the flood. Stuurmans was not built for a 1 in 200 year flood.

The maximum it was surveyed for is 2900 cumec. It is estimated that 4000 cumec passed on the 7th of May.

The bottom right hand photo indicate how much higher the last flood was in comparison the the previous highest mark.

The Department will move the structure out of the flood plain and resurvey the area (which means that it will enable us to read higher volumes passing through the weir), in the next two years.

Kouga dam 100.89%, spilling at 20 000 litre per second
Loerie dam 78.18%
The Metro abstracted 78Ml
24Ml was released into Loerie dam

Groot rivier weir 4.49 cumec
Beervlei dam 101.64%, spilling at 1 380 litre per second

Photo of Krakeel received from Riaan Strydom on the 24th of July 2026.Dit is kommerwekkend hoeveel skade ons aan infrast...
10/08/2026

Photo of Krakeel received from Riaan Strydom on the 24th of July 2026.

Dit is kommerwekkend hoeveel skade ons aan infrastruktuur gehad het gedurende die Mei en Junie se reënval gebeurtenisse.

REëNVAL IN 'N GEDEELTE VAN DIE OPVANGEBIED:

Krakeel hoek 100mm
Krakeel 39mm
Tamie 47mm

It should have an influence on the level of Kouga dam.

Sequel.... to 31 July... Shaun Abrahams...This is how you look after you came out of the Belly of the Beast.The health ...
07/08/2026

Sequel.... to 31 July... Shaun Abrahams...

This is how you look after you came out of the Belly of the Beast.

The health of our dam is important to DWS. We are grateful.

Opvolg op 31 Julie se plasing..... Shaun Abrahams....

Dit is hoe jy lyk as jy die Maag van die Draak ondersoek.

Die manne en dames vir wie ons dam se gesondheid belangrik is ontsien geen moeite nie. Dankie DWS!

Kouga dam 100.27%, spilling at 3200 litres per second.
Groot rivier weir is running at 2400 litre per second.
Beervlei dam is spilling at 760 litre per second.
Loerie dam 72.15%
Released into Loerie 19ML
Abstracted by the Metro 78Ml

How many people does it take to close the Belly of the Beast? Quite a few....We are nearing the end of our dry period. ...
31/07/2026

How many people does it take to close the Belly of the Beast? Quite a few....

We are nearing the end of our dry period. A brief inspection was done on the pipe between Kouga dam's service gate and the canal outlet by DWS.

These gentlemen are closing the manhole to the pipe.

Shaun Abrahams, you rock!!!! More of that later.

Hoeveel manne vat dit om die Maag van die Draak toe te maak? 'n Hele paar....

Ons is byna aan die einde van ons droeë periode. DWS het 'n ogie kom gooi om te sien hoe die pypwerk tussen die kanaal uitlaat en die dienssluis by Kouga dam lyk. Hier is die manne besig om die mangat toe te maak.

Shaun Abrahams, jy het senuwees van staal!!! Later meer hieroor.

Kouga dam 100.49%, 8000 litre per second.
Groot rivier 101.37%, 1000 litre per second.
Loerie dam 72.55%,
The Metro abstracted 78Ml.

Second week of our dewatering period and we are busy...... This is D41, a connection to a pipe on one of our branch can...
27/07/2026

Second week of our dewatering period and we are busy...... This is D41, a connection to a pipe on one of our branch canals.

Die tweede week van ons droeë periode. Ons is besig. Hierdie is 'n koppeling van 'n pyp op een van ons takkanale, D41....

Kouga dam 100.36%, spilling at 5000 litre per second.
Groot rivier weir is running at 3280 litre per second.
Beervlie dam 101,37%, spilling at 1050 litre per second.
Loerie dam 76.82%,
The Metro abstracted 77Ml yesterday

We, with the Department, lowered the service gate of the dam yesterday to inspect the tunnel between the canal outlet an...
24/07/2026

We, with the Department, lowered the service gate of the dam yesterday to inspect the tunnel between the canal outlet and the service gate.

It is still unbelievable to understand the volume of water which spilled on the 7th of May over our dam wall.

Ons en die Departement het gister die dienssluis van die dam laat sak, sodat die tonnel tussen die dienssluis en die kanaal uitlaat ondersoek kan word.

Die volume water wat op die 7nde Mei oor Kougadam geloop het is steeds ondenkbaar.

Kouga dam 100,36%, 5000 litre per second
Groot rivier weir, 3100 litre per second
Beervlei dam 101.37%, 1052 litre per second
Loerie dam 82.19%
79Ml was abstracted from Loerie by the Metro.
No water is released into Loerie due to our dewatering period.

Life in the Gamtoos redefined....A photo that I am not keen to share.A citrus orchard affected by the flood.Large parts ...
21/07/2026

Life in the Gamtoos redefined....
A photo that I am not keen to share.

A citrus orchard affected by the flood.
Large parts of top soil washed away, approximately 180 hectars of land cannot be recovered and many of the citrus orchards are still swamped in water. All fruit exposed to the water of the flood has spoiled.

Thank you Jaco Muller for capturing a small part of the impact of the flood.

Die lewe hergedefinieer in die Gamtoos....
'n Foto wat ek nie graag wou deel nie.

'n Sitrus boord waardeur die vloed is.
Groot dele van die bogrond het weggespoel. Om en by 180 hektar grond sal nooit weer geplant kan word nie en baie sitrus boorde staan nog in water. Alle vrugte wat blootgestel is aan die vloed het gevrot.

Kouga dam 100.36%, spilling at 5000 litre per second.
Groot rivier weir is still running at 3000 litre per second.
Beervlei dam is spilling at 1700 litre per second.
Loerie dam 88.75%
The Metro abstracted 79Ml.

Address

Fred Ferreira Road
Patensie
6335

Opening Hours

Monday 07:15 - 16:00
Tuesday 07:15 - 16:00
Wednesday 07:15 - 16:00
Thursday 07:15 - 16:00
Friday 07:15 - 15:00

Telephone

0422830329

Website

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