THUKELA RIVER

THUKELA RIVER: Dams

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Map of the THUKELA River

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Name

Max. capacity (mil. cub.m)

Comments

Bellpark Dam

7.5

The dam,is situated in the upper reaches of Little Tukela River. The dam is used mostly for recreational purposes and its potential is not fully utilised. (Ref.1.)

Craigie Burn Dam

(on the Mynamvubu)

23.5

Constructed on the Mnyamvubu River in 1963 . The dam supplements water supplies to approximately 2000 ha of predominantly citrus farming irrigation downstream of the dam and along the Mooi River at Muden. (Ref.1.)

Driel Barrage

8.7

Water is released from Woodstock Dam to Driel Barrage, from where it is pumped to a transfer canal that feeds the Jagersrust Balancing Dam.

Jagersrust Balancing Dam

Provides balancing storage at the end of the transfer canal from where water is pumped to Kilburn Dam.

Kilburn

(on the Thukela)

35.7

Ntshingwayo Dam

199

Ntshingwayo Dam (previously known as Chelmsford Dam) which was completed in 1961 and raised in 1982. It has a capacity of 199 million m3. The dam was built to supply water to the town of Newcastle, Eskom’s thermal power station and irrigation farmers downstream. Releases are sometimes made to dilute factory spillages that end up in the river system. (Ref.1.)

Woodstock Dam

(on the Thukela)

380.8

Located on the upper reaches of the Thukela River, is the main source of water for the Thukela-Vaal Transfer Scheme.

Slangdraai Dam

10.3

Sundays River

Spioenkop Dam

(on the Thukela)

274.3

Constructed to regulate flow downstream of the Driel Barrage to mitigate the effect of the transfer scheme. The dam also supplies water to Ladysmith and supports water requirements for the farmers between the dam and the confluence of the Little Thukela River. Releases are also occasionally called for to dilute the effluent discharged by Sappi into the lower Thukela near the river mouth. The Tugela-Mhlathuze Water Transfer Scheme at Middeldrift can also be supported from Spioenkop Dam if necessary. (Ref.1.)

Wagendrift

(on the Bushmans)

58.5

The Wagendrift Dam was constructed in 1963 on the Bushmans River to supply approximately 3000 ha of irrigation between the dam and the Thukela River. Up to 2 m³/s is released from the dam for environmental and irrigation requirements if the dam is not spilling. Estcourt obtains water for domestic and local industrial purposes directly from the Wagendrift Dam and discharges treated effluent back into the river downstream of the dam. (Ref.1.)

Zaaihoek Dam

193

Built in 1988 with an original capacity of 193 million m3. Zaaihoek Dam is on the Slang River (tributary of the Buffalo River). Used to transfer water to the Vaal system and the Majuba Power Station. Can also supplies demands downstream of the dam by releasing water into the Slang River. (Ref.1.)

References

Ref 1: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, South Africa. 2004. Internal Strategic Perspective: Thukela Water Management Area : Prepared by Tlou & Matji (Pty) Ltd, WRP (Pty) Ltd, and DMM cc on behalf of the Directorate: National Water Resource Planning (East). DWAF Report No. P WMA 07/000/00/0304.

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