{
  "id": 3954599,
  "title": "Vaal Dam storage eases slightly through the week as inflows fluctuate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/vaal-dam-storage-eases-slightly-through-the-week-as-inflows-fluctuate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T11:52:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/vaal-dam-storage-eases-slightly-through-the-week-as-inflows-fluctuate/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The storage level at Vaal Dam decreased slightly over the week of 24 to 30 August 2026, fluctuating between 100.75% and 101.00% according to the weekly hydrological report compiled for Rand Water and the Department of Water and Sanitation. Initially, on Monday, the dam’s storage stood at 101.00%, the same level on Tuesday. However, it dropped to 100.88% on Wednesday before remaining constant on Thursday and further reducing to 100.75% on Friday.\n\nThe report mentioned that not all abstraction and evaporation losses from Vaal Dam are included in these figures, which could explain the gradual decline. The dam's storage level was higher compared to the same period last year, which recorded 107.1%.\n\nThroughout the week, inflow into the dam varied. It began at 44.1m³/s on Monday, dropped to its lowest point of 39.3m³/s on Tuesday, then rose to 45.3m³/s on Wednesday, the highest weekly inflow point. Subsequently, the inflow decreased to 43.5m³/s on Thursday and 41.5m³/s on Friday.\n\nDespite the fluctuating inflow, the dam discharge remained consistent at 16.8m³/s throughout the week, and no sluice gates were opened at any point. The water level at the Vaal Barrage started at 7.6m on Monday and Tuesday, then fell to 7.5m from Wednesday to Friday. The barrage discharge mirrored this pattern, easing from 22.7m³/s on Monday and Tuesday to 22.6m³/s for the rest of the week.\n\nWater temperature at the barrage started at 12.6°C on Monday, slightly decreased to 12.2°C on Tuesday, then rose again to 12.6°C on Wednesday. It further rose to 14.5°C on Thursday, the week’s highest temperature before easing back to 14.1°C on Friday. Temperature data for the weekend was not recorded at the time of publication.",
  "summary": "Around the same period last year, the Vaal Dam stood at a higher level, recording 107.1%.",
  "key_points": [
    "Vaal Dam storage decreased slightly from 101.00% to 100.75% over the week.",
    "Inflows fluctuated, starting at 44.1m³/s and dropping to 39.3m³/s before rising again.",
    "Water temperature varied, peaking at 14.5°C on Thursday before easing back."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}