Rising water level of the Black Volta has forced operators of the Bui hydro dam to initiate a major spillage of excess water to safeguard the integrity of the dam.
As at October 23, the water level in dam had reached 182.81 metres; less than one metre to hit the maximum water level of 183 metres above sea level.
This is due to the continuous rainfall currently being recorded across the country.
Two of the five spill gates of the dam were fully opened at exactly 9:00 a.m. and authorities hope to continue until the water reaches the operational level of 181.78 metres, our correspondent Larry Paa Moses reported.
Authorities say the water level has reached a crucial point for them to spill the excess water to protect the 400 megawatts power generating facility in the Bono Region.
Though operators of the dam say the spilling is controlled, they have warned residents of all the 46 communities along the river banks not to go fishing or allow children to play in the river as the water level is set to rise in their areas in the coming days.
Wednesday’s spillage is the second major one to be carried out since 2015 when a test spillage exercise was performed.
The spillage is expected to last for the next 10 days.
“We’ve gone round all the 46 communities; we’ve sensitised them, we’ve told them not to go fishing, not to go near the river banks,” Corporate Manager of the Bui Power Authority, Cherie Lawson said.
“We know that the water will go through the river course but the river level may rise so they shouldn’t go fishing which will be dangerous. The children should not go playing in the water until we finish spilling,” she added.
NADMO and other emergency services, she said, have been put on standby by to respond to any situation that may arise.
By 3news.com|Ghana