WaterNSW dam teams prepare for widespread rain event
20 AUGUST 2025WaterNSW is advising the public to monitor weather forecasts and alerts over the coming days, with the Bureau of Meteorology (Bureau) forecasting widespread rain across the Namoi catchment.
Keepit Dam remains near capacity after weeks of inflows and is currently making low-volume, controlled releases to ensure the safety of the dam structure. The dam is likely to fill and exceed capacity over the coming days.
Keepit Dam captures water from 30% of the Namoi catchment area, while the remaining 70% of the catchment contributes to flows from tributaries downstream of the dam, as occurred during flooding earlier this month.
Tributaries such as the Peel, Cockburn and Mooki Rivers and the Goonoo Goonoo and Coxs Creeks are expected to again deliver large volumes into the Namoi River downstream of Keepit, based on current forecasts by the Bureau.
Across the region:
- It is possible that Split Rock Dam on the Manilla River will fill and spill, further adding to inflows into
Keepit downstream. - Chaffey Dam on the Peel River will continue to spill, with Peel River flows entering the Namoi
downstream of Keepit. - Copeton Dam on the Gwydir River is likely to receive inflows but has sufficient storage capacity to
capture these inflows without the need to release into what is expected to be flooding along the
Gwydir River downstream.
The community is encouraged to monitor advice the Bureau and NSW SES, and can also sign up to WaterNSW’s automated notification system, the Early Warning Network (EWN) here to receive alerts on dam and water supply activity.
- For the latest weather and flood information, check the Bureau website – bom.gov.au
- For emergency information, contact the NSW SES – 132 500 or ses.nsw.gov.au