ALEXANDRA DAM

ALEXANDRA DAM: Western Cape

Catchment:

Water coarse (River):

On the Disa River

Capacity:

0,13 mil.cub.m

Type of wall:

Date constructed:

1892

Owner:

City of Cape Town

Map

Notes:

Another dam designed by Thomas Stewart, the Alexandra was built in 1892 by Mr John Delbridge for the Wynberg Municipality. Charles Rutherford was later commissioned to raise it by a further 3.66 metres, also to the design of Thomas Stewart. this was completed in 1903, giving the dam a final height of 12 meters.

As with the Woodhead, the 'Alex' has another dam (the Victoria), built above it to increase the storage capacity. Unlike the Woodhead, it does not discharge directly to the treatment plant. The Alexandra is now the centre dam in a chain of three along the Disa valley, and its water is led through the De Villiers Dam on its way down from the mountain.

The Alexandra, along with its sister dams, was acquired by the City of Cape Town's Waterworks in 1927 when the unification of the Wynberg and Cape Town municipalities finally took place, hastened no doubt, by the severe water shortages of the time.

Photos:

References:

Useful links:

Department of Water Affairs (Dam information and levels)