A full to capacity Sterkfontein Dam is critical for the Security of Water Supply in the IVRS
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is mandated to ensure security of supply for the country. One of the most critical water supply systems in the country is the Integrated Vaal River System (IVRS), a combination of fourteen (14) dams with catchments in the provinces of the Free State, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and North West, including transfers from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP).
This is the System that supplies water to the province that is the heartbeat of the South African, Regional and Continental economy, Gauteng.
As part of ensuring the continued integrity of the IVRS, the DWS has to transfer water from the Tugela River to Sterkfontein Dam. This is done for two reasons mainly, to fill up Sterkfontein Dam to capacity (as the reserve dam for the IVRS, in case there’s a need to recharge the IVRS), as well as to reduce losses of water flowing from the Tugela River to the sea. The Sterkfontein Dam as per the DWS Weekly State of Reservoirs Report dated Tuesday 18th November 2019 stood at 91,4% of capacity.
This transfer activity was to have begun at the beginning of August 2019.
The intention and the plan for the Thukela – Vaal transfer was that:
- Transfer from Driel Barrage: May – July 2019: ZERO
- August 2019: 8 m cubed/second
- September: 11 m cubed/second
- Zero transfers from the diversion canals and transfer continues until Sterkfontein Dam is 100% full for the 2019/2020 operating year.
- For 2020 onwards: Transfer 11 m cubed/second from the Driel Barrage; Transfer 2,1 m cubed/second from the diversion canals.
The initial technical as well as safety issues with the infrastructure that were identified by the Department of Labour during a visit to the Driel pumping station were sorted out.
Issues of concern raised in March 2019 by Eskom and SASOL including at the Tugela-Vaal pump stations were resolved by about end-September 2019 after an Emergency Contractor was appointed and the required transfers were made.
There was also an issue experienced with a local community through which the canal that transfers the water from Driel through to Kilburn runs. These went back about three years and revolved around the number of drownings that had taken place in the canals. Several information sessions educating the scholars about the dangers of the canal were held led by the Central Operations component of the DWS.
Together with this, the Department did initially erect barbed wire fencing which disappeared. This was replaced with palisade fencing which was also vandalised.
Further engagements with the community yielded the result that the DWS did agree to construct a tamper-proof wall along the canal. However, since this was going to be a long-term solution, the community insisted that locals be hired to ensure the safety of the community when pumping takes place.
The Central Operations has engaged DWS: Construction to assist to have one-hundred (100) community members appointed for this purpose – this will be a special contract under section 76 of the National Water Act (NWA).
The DWS is currently in negotiations with the community and close to finalising some of the details of the arrangements. It is anticipated that the DWS should commence the transfers on the 2nd of December 2019, which is however still a provisional date.
The DWS is enjoined to ensure security of supply, secure, operate and maintain the infrastructure it is responsible for, whilst at the same time work together with the relevant and affected communities through which the necessary infrastructure is located to ensure the safety of such communities, and the protection of infrastructure.
It is also apt to indicate that the inspection and maintenance work on the LHWP tunnel that was closed on 01 October scheduled for until 30th November has been completed. The recharge of the tunnel has started on the 20th of November. It is expected that the 01 December will see the flows again through the tunnel into the IVRS and related infrastructure.
For more information contact:
Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation
Cell: 082 874 2942
