Dam · Free State · South Africa · DWS
Gariep Dam
99.9% full
Total capacity
4,903.5 Mm³
River
Orange
Basin
Orange
Primary use
water supply
Operator
DWS
Coordinates
-30.544°S, 25.530°E
Last updated
2026-08-31
Current fill
99.9%vs 7 days ago
+0.2%gaining
vs 1 year ago
N/A7-day trend
→stable
Weekly storage
Fill history — multi-year
About this dam
Dam height
88 m
Year built
1972
Dam type
Arch-gravity
Data source
official
Storage data: Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Weekly State of Dams report, South Africa.
Catchment Weather
Past 30 days + 14-day forecast · Open-Meteo
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics. Map: Esri, HERE, Garmin, © OpenStreetMap contributors. -30.544, 25.530 · Open in Google Maps
About Gariep Dam
As of August 31, 2026, Gariep Dam is filled to 99.9% of its total capacity, holding roughly 4,899 Mm³ of water out of a maximum 4,904 Mm³. At this level the reservoir is high.
Over the most recent week on record the fill level has held broadly steady (+0.2 pts).
Across the readings we hold for Gariep Dam — 14 data points between May 31, 2026 and August 31, 2026 — the level has ranged from a low of 98.9% (June 29, 2026) to a high of 102.3% (May 31, 2026).
The dam at Gariep Dam stands 88 m tall and is a arch-gravity dam and was completed in 1972. It is operated by DWS primarily for water supply. It lies within the Orange basin at 30.544°S, 25.530°E.
Key facts
- Current fill level
- 99.9%
- Water stored
- 4,899 Mm³
- Total capacity
- 4,904 Mm³
- 7-day change
- ▲ 0.2 pts
- Primary use
- Water supply
- River
- Orange
- River basin
- Orange
- Dam height
- 88 m
- Year completed
- 1972
- Operator
- DWS
- Coordinates
- 30.544°S, 25.530°E
- Last updated
- August 31, 2026
Recent readings
| Date | Fill level | Volume (Mm³) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 2026 | 99.9% | 4,899 |
| 24 Aug 2026 | 99.7% | 4,889 |
| 17 Aug 2026 | 99.0% | 4,854 |
| 10 Aug 2026 | 99.3% | 4,869 |
| 3 Aug 2026 | 99.3% | 4,869 |
| 27 Jul 2026 | 99.3% | 4,869 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | 98.9% | 4,850 |
| 22 Jun 2026 | 100.5% | 4,928 |
| 16 Jun 2026 | 100.9% | 4,948 |
| 9 Jun 2026 | 100.9% | 4,948 |
| 8 Jun 2026 | 99.6% | 4,884 |
| 7 Jun 2026 | 99.6% | 4,884 |
Nearby reservoirs
See also: South Africa dam levels, explained — how the DWS Weekly State of Dams report becomes the national and provincial figures.