Seqwater provides a free Dam Release Notification service which sends notifications by email, text messages to mobile phones or recorded messages to telephone landlines when dam releases are occurring.

Seqwater dams and water releases

Seqwater manages 23 un-gated and three gated dams in South East Queensland, providing water to 3.1 million people in the region. To find out when our un-gated dams are spilling excess water, or we are making water releases from our gated dams, download our public safety app or sign up to receive dam release notifications.

Public safety app

Our public safety app combines dam release notifications, dam levels information, recreation, safety and lake closure updates and weather alerts.

Download from App store

Download from Google Play store

Registration to receive dam release notifications

By registering for our free dam release notification service, you can select the dams you would like to receive notifications about. Simply complete the registration form online and accept the terms and conditions of using the service.

Register for email notifications

Register for SMS and/or message to landline

If you have already subscribed to another notification service through the Early Warning Network, such as Brisbane City Council’s service, please login to your account and add the required Seqwater subscriptions.

Download the terms and conditions

Change of subscription details

Once you’re a registered subscriber, you can change your contact details or selected dams for dam release notifications at any time. You can update your details online using the Change Subscription form or by calling 1300 737 928 during business hours.

Please allow one business day for updates to take effect.

Unsubscribe

You can unsubscribe at any time by emailing [email protected] or by calling 1300 737 928 during business hours. 

Please allow one business day for updates to take effect.

Notification information

Our dam release notifications will contain different information depending upon the type of dam(s) you select.

Gated dams

If you choose to receive information about gated dams, the notifications will tell you about the potential and likelihood of gated dam operations, the timing of water releases from each selected dam and the impacts on selected bridges and crossings downstream of the dams. You will also receive notifications when gated dam releases stop.

Click here to view the specific notifications for gated dams.

Un-gated dams

If you choose to receive information on un-gated dams, the notifications will tell you when the dam is spilling, when there may be potential downstream hazards, and when the dam has stopped spilling. We do not provide information on the expected timing of releases from un-gated dams as flows will start once the dam is full. We will notify you if the outflows have increased to a level that may cause potential hazards to the safety of people and property downstream.

This means that if you are downstream of the dam, avoid potential hazards such as fast flowig or deep water near waterways and floodplains. These hazards potentially threaten the safety of you and your property. 

Click here to view the specific notifications for un-gated dams.

For information about localised flood impacts, road and crossing closures, please contact your local council.

Mid Brisbane River Irrigators subscriber group

In December 2016 as part of continuous improvements to the dam release notification service, we established a new subscriber group called Mid Brisbane River Irrigators. Subscribers to this group will receive two specific types of notifications before flood releases commence from Wivenhoe Dam. 

Click here to view the specific notifications for Mid Brisbane River Irrigators group.

Somerset Dam operational releases

For Somerset Dam, we have introduced some notifications when we make operational releases from Somerset into Wivenhoe Dam.

Click here to view the specific notifications for Somerset Dam operational releases.

Maroon Dam - change to notifications

To better reflect the way we operate the dam, we have revised the content of our Maroon Dam notifications.

Click here to view the Maroon Dam information sheet about the notification changes.

Use of the notification information

It is important to remember that water released from a dam, whether by operation of a gate or a spillway flow from an un-gated dam, is only one source of water contributing to flows in rivers or watercourses downstream of the dam. In considering the information provided by the notification service, subscribers should be aware of other sources of potential flooding, including flows from catchments downstream of the dam, overland flows from adjoining or nearby land, localised flash flooding downstream of the dam, and stormwater system releases. Our dam release notification service only provides information about the dams you select and does not provide information about any other potential sources of flooding.

The notification service does not provide information on river levels at gauges, or predictions about areas that may be inundated by flood waters in a flood event. Other sources of information include:

• details of road closures, inundation flood mapping and information about any evacuation arrangements - your local Council and Local Disaster Management Group
• weather forecasts and information on changes in river levels at particular gauge locations - the Bureau of Meteorology
• emergency services warnings - Police and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

Notification frequency

Notifications will be issued by Seqwater from time to time, depending upon the type of dam(s) you selected.

If you choose to receive information on a gated dam, the notification will be issued during declared flood events each time there is a material change in the timing for flood water releases from the selected dam(s) and impacts on bridges and crossings downstream of the dam

If you choose to receive information on an un-gated dam, the notification will be issued at the time the dam is spilling, when the outflows reach the potential downstream hazard level, and when the dam stops spilling.