Vaal Dam still spilling over, even as water levels ease slightly

A small dip this week, but a massive difference from last year

If you’ve driven past the Vaal recently, you’ll know, it still looks full. Comfortingly full.

Even though water levels have edged down over the past few days, the Vaal Dam remains above capacity, sitting at 101.26% as of Wednesday. That’s slightly lower than Monday’s 101.64% and Tuesday’s 101.54%, but still comfortably in overflow territory.

For a province that has lived through both crippling drought fears and infrastructure anxiety, that number matters.

Above 100% and holding steady

According to The Reservoir, a Water Resource Information Centre serving the Upper Vaal Water Management Area, the dam has maintained levels above 100% for days now.

While inflow into the dam has slowed, dropping from 64.9 cubic metres per second on Monday to 37.0m³/s by Wednesday the outflow has remained steady at 21.4m³/s.

Importantly, no sluice gates are currently open.

That means the dam is not being actively released to manage flood risk, but rather holding steady as natural inflow stabilises.

At the nearby Vaal Barrage, water temperatures have remained consistent between 23.0°C and 23.5°C, and the barrage level has held firm at 7.5 metres throughout the monitoring period.

In short: no drama. Just a gentle easing.

A very different picture from 2025

What makes this moment notable is not the slight dip it’s the comparison to last year.

At the same time in 2025, the Vaal Dam was sitting at just 61.8%.

That’s a staggering difference.

This year’s levels reflect a strong recovery in water storage across the system, offering relief not just to Gauteng households but also to industries, farmers and municipalities that rely heavily on the Vaal River system.

The Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly report last week recorded levels at 101.6%, confirming that the dam has consistently remained above full capacity.

For residents who still remember the water restrictions of past dry cycles, those numbers feel reassuring.

Why the Vaal matters so much

The Vaal Dam isn’t just another scenic body of water where Joburg families head for long weekends.

It is a lifeline.

The dam supplies water to Gauteng the country’s economic engine as well as parts of the Free State, Mpumalanga and North West. When Vaal levels drop significantly, it triggers national concern about water security, urban supply interruptions and agricultural strain.

That’s why even small percentage shifts are closely watched by analysts, farmers and policymakers alike.

On social media, reaction to the latest figures has been a mix of relief and cautious optimism. Some users have pointed out that while dam levels are healthy, municipal infrastructure problems and ageing pipes remain a separate challenge.

In other words: full dams don’t automatically mean smooth water delivery at street level.

Stability, for now

The current trend suggests stabilisation rather than rapid decline. A gradual drop after sustained overflow is normal, particularly as inflow reduces following seasonal rainfall peaks.

The key takeaway is that the system remains strong.

With climate variability becoming more pronounced and extreme weather patterns increasingly common, maintaining dam resilience is critical. Experts often warn that South Africa swings between floods and droughts with little middle ground.

For now, the Vaal Dam tells a positive story, one of recovery and relative security compared to the anxiety of a year ago.

But as any seasoned Gauteng resident knows, water conversations in this country are never just about rainfall. They’re about planning, infrastructure and long-term management.

This week’s numbers offer comfort.

The bigger question is whether the system will stay this strong when the next dry cycle inevitably arrives.