The operator and manager of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, SONABEL, has indicated that controlled discharge from the reservoir could commence on Friday, August 28, 2026, should the water level continue to rise and reach the designated threshold.
The development has been communicated by Ghana’s Water Resources Commission through its White Volta Basin Secretariat, which continues to monitor water levels at major reservoirs within the basin and assess their potential implications for downstream communities.
According to the Commission’s latest daily situation update, the Bagre Dam was recording a water level of 234.55 metres, representing a reservoir filling level of 93.98 percent. The measurement places the dam approximately 0.45 metres below its normal operating level of 235.0 metres.
The Commission explained that SONABEL could open the Bagre Dam spillway on Friday if the reservoir rises to 234.75 metres. The authority added that any decision to commence the controlled release would be communicated to relevant stakeholders as developments unfold.
The potential discharge is particularly significant for communities located downstream within the White Volta Basin, where changes in upstream reservoir levels can affect river flows and contribute to heightened flood risks under certain conditions.
The Water Resources Commission is therefore continuing to monitor developments closely while maintaining communication with stakeholders regarding any changes in the reservoir situation.
Meanwhile, the Kompienga Dam in Burkina Faso was recording a water level of 178.13 metres, corresponding to a filling rate of 81.45 percent. The reservoir remained 1.87 metres below its normal level of 180.0 metres.
The Commission further reported that one of the spillways at the Kompienga Dam has remained open to a height of 0.5 metres since January 1, 2026. The resulting discharge was measured at approximately 19.03 cubic metres per second.
The authority clarified, however, that the continued opening of the Kompienga spillway was not intended to release excess water or regulate flood flows. Rather, the measure was implemented to preserve a minimum level of water within the downstream river system.
The latest assessment places renewed attention on water management across the White Volta Basin as authorities in Ghana and Burkina Faso monitor reservoir conditions and prepare for possible changes in downstream river flows.
With the Bagre reservoir already standing at more than 93 percent of its capacity, the possibility of controlled spillage on August 28 has prompted increased vigilance among water management authorities. Any further rise in the reservoir toward the 234.75 metre threshold could therefore trigger the anticipated opening of the spillway.
The Water Resources Commission is expected to provide further updates should the reservoir reach the specified level and SONABEL proceed with the controlled release.
