�Stubborn� Gaborone Dam nears halfway point

Staff Writer | Wednesday February 22, 2017 17:42

At the same time last year, the dam had failed and was recorded at 1.7%, leaving the Greater Gaborone totally dependent on supplies from dams in the north, through the North South Water Carrier.

At its latest levels, Gaborone Dam can supply the Greater Gaborone area for 15 months, a period the Water Utilities Corporation will be happy with as it stretches into the next rain season.

Heavy downpours in the South East and Southern districts since Monday have resulted in flooding in several areas, as well as infrastructure breakdown, particularly along key roads.

On Monday, Gaborone Dam was measured at 35.8%, rising by 3.9% overnight representing an additional 5.5 billion litres of water. Pictures and videos shared on social media by residents showed heavy flooding along the Gaborone-Lobatse road, as well as strong overflow of the Notwane Dam, which is the principal supplier of water to Gaborone Dam.

The Meteorological Services Department has been quick to explain that the current rains are not part of tropical Cyclone Dineo which passed through the northern parts of the country over the weekend, dumping 270 millimetres in 24 hours in Changate.

Rather, the current rains are part of the above normal rainfall forecast by the department in September and December, as part of the wet La Nina phenomenon.

By yesterday, all the country’s dams, apart from Gaborone Dam, were spilling.