Big new dam rises quickly
2007-08-08
“ON track, on target, on top.”
This was the general consensus by management members of TCTA and representatives of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry regarding the progress of the nearly completed Berg River Dam.
The dam sluices have been closed for only two weeks and already it has reached 20% of its capacity - this while a steady flow continues to run to the Berg River via the dam.
The rising level of the dam is good news, because the R1,5 billion project is due to bring relief to the dwindling water supplies of Cape Town. On completion the dam will have a storage capacity of 130 million cubic metres.
The site, which is regarded as the biggest current water infrastructure project in South Africa, boasts an intricate pipeline system which will utilise water to the maximum and minimise water wastage.
With this system, excess water can be pumped back to the Theewaters Kloof Dam when the Berg River Dam is due to overflow.
A supplement scheme has also been incorporated into the project, with an additonal four hectare dam built lower down near the Drakenstein Prison.
Here the flow from smaller tributaries to the Berg River will be captured and pumped back to the Berg River Dam.
The river’s water quality is closely monitored on a regular basis, from the dam down to the mouth at Velddrif, to keep a watchful eye on the ecology.
Not only has TCTA been responsible for the actual construction of the dam, but once it has been completed, they have an exit strategy plan in place by which the local community will benefit.
Not only were 600 jobs created for local labourers, but unskilled labourers were given the opportunity to receive training in basic construction work.
TCTA have set up a skills data-base where developers to the area are able to access these local workers.
Last week a site visit was conducted by Lindiwe Hendricks, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, who applauded the milestone of the first water being captured in the dam.
The project is due to be fully completed by November and this will coincide with the renaming of the dam.
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