The upgraded Hazelmere Dam will be more than twice the size of the current dam when it is finished, probably early next year.
The dam wall is being raised by seven metres, which will increase the capacity of the dam from 17 million kilolitres to 37 million kl, an increase of 218 percent.
Thanks to the improved rainfall this year, says the Department of Water Affairs, the dam is currently at 102% of its old level compared to 24% at this time in 2016.
The decision to raise the wall was taken after the crippling drought in 2015/16, which forced severe water restrictions in the dam’s supply areas of Durban North, Tongaat/Verulam and Ballito.
In order to be able to combat future droughts, a department spokesman said the Hazelmere water treatment works had been upgraded to supply 75 megalitres per day from 55 ml/day and the water supply system that the dam supplies has also been augmented by 55 ml/day from the Tugela River.
“As the available water exceeds the demand in the area the need for water restrictions has been significantly reduced.”
Asked if increasing the dam wall height involved any particular engineering conditions, he said the nature of ground water at depth made for challenging geo-hydrological conditions.
“This influences the waterproofing of the ground anchor boreholes. Ground anchors are required to improve the dam wall stability in preparation for the increased storage in the dam.”
While the wall upgrade was supposed to be completed in November, DAFF now expects the finish date to be around April 2018. If annual rainfall stays at present levels, the dam is expected to reach its new capacity of 37 million kl by January 2019. The dam, when full, will cover 352 hectares.
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