LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) has increased water discharge at Kamuzu Barrage to about 1.4 million litres per second, up from the earlier adjusted rate of 1 million litres per second, as lake levels nearly overtopped the barrage deck.
This move is aimed at safeguarding the structure’s integrity and preventing potential flooding downstream.
The initial increase from the normal 350,000 litres per second was implemented earlier this week following a rise in Lake Malawi water levels, which are currently 46 centimetres higher than during the same period last year.
NWRA Spokesperson Masozi Kasambala says the situation escalated on Wednesday, forcing the authority to immediately open the barrage gates.
The discharge was raised to 1.45 million litres per second, but has since been slightly reduced to around 1.44 million litres per second as water levels receded by 10 centimetres.
Engineers at Kamuzu Barrage are continuing to closely monitor developments, guided by forecasts from the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services.
This proactive approach is crucial in mitigating the impact of rising water levels on surrounding communities and infrastructure.
The rising water levels in Lake Malawi are attributed to heavy rainfall across Central and Northern regions of Malawi and parts of Tanzania.
The NWRA has warned that continued rise in lake water levels poses a serious threat to farming, tourism, and electricity generation downstream.
The authority has increased discharge volumes at Kamuzu Barrage from 500,000 to between 900,000 and 1 million litres of water per second.
This delicate balance aims to ensure critical infrastructure downstream, such as Nkula, Tedzani, and Kapichira hydro-power stations, are not negatively affected.
The NWRA’s efforts demonstrate a commitment to managing Malawi’s water resources effectively.
By regulating water flow into the Shire River, the authority balances upstream and downstream needs.