September 2011 Issue

To continue with dams this month lets look at what is happening at present and in the future. As we know nearly all our national dams were built during the 1920's to 1940's; mostly to create employment during the severe drought and crippling depression. After the Second World War no more of such major projects were undertaken except for the raising of a few dam walls to increase existing capacity.

The Katse Dam in Lesotho:

In recent years however our need for water resources has resurfaced and the planning and construction of new dams has become a priority for government with the completion of the Highlands Water Scheme and its Katse dam in Lesotho the main water reservoir. The Lesotho Highlands Water Project was signed between South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho in 1986 to ensure continued water supply to Gauteng and Lesotho.

The De Hoop Dam:

Construction is in full swing at the site of this new multibillion Rand project on the Steelpoort River, in Limpopo. This dam, believed to be the biggest to be constructed in South Africa in the last 20 years, is due for completion in 2012. The dam wall will be 88 m high and over a kilometer long, with the gross dam capacity placed at 347 million m3. Forming part of the Olifants River Water Resources project it will supply the medium to long-term water needs in the Sekhukhune area as well as to increased mining activity in the area.

Berg River Dam:

The Berg Water Project comprises the Berg River Dam about 6 km from Franschhoek in the Western Cape which is to increase the water supply to the City of Cape Town and metropolitan area as well as adjoining farming areas of the
Western Cape. This scheme is the first bulk water development project that is linked to water demand management by creating an Ecological Reserve for the upper Berg River catchment area.

The project caters for two distinct flow release systems; a small release system for Cape Town’s needs and a large flow release which will cater for naturally occurring flood events as required by the Ecological Reserve area. Constructed between 2002 and 2008 the gross storage capacity of the dam is 130 million m3 with the dam wall being 65m high.

The growth in our population will continue to create an ever increasing need for new dams and water reservoirs in the future.

Next month :Facts about our rivers.