Largest Cuban Reservoir Releases Excess Water Due to Rains Associated to TS Isaac

Santi Spiritus, Cuba, Aug 28.- The Zaza dam, the largest in Cuba, received 53 million cubic meters of water in the last 24 hours due to rains associated with Tropical Storm Isaac, which advised the release of the excess to the sea.

Leonel Diaz, delegate of the Water Resources Institute, told reporters that the reservoir accumulates 940 million cubic meters, 20 above the established hydrological prevention, so they decided to partially open four of its six sluicegates.

That way, he said, 300 cubic meters per second are released into the sea, without affecting the communities located downstream of the reservoir, to prevent the evacuation of the residents of these areas, including coastal settlements.

In the same central Cuban province the dams Tuinicú, Felicidad, Higuanojo, Aridanes and Banao II, are getting rid of the excess of stored waters, to avoid damages to their gates or other operating systems.

At the onset of the rains associated with Isaac, the nine Santi Spiritus reservoirs were storing a total 1.1 billion cubic meters, 86 percent of their potential.

On Monday, they had received 71 million cubic meters, mainly from the Sunday night rains.

Since Sunday noon there are rainfall at intervals throughout this province, at times heavy, due to the bands associated with Tropical Storm Isaac, which is away from Cuba and already entered the Gulf of Mexico.(Radio Cadena Agramonte )