Klipfontein dam wall to be raised

Estella Naicker

THE raising of the Klipfontein dam wall is now on the cards as the national Department of Water Affairs investigates ways to ensure water security in the area for years to come.

While many are cheering the decision to finally take action, the enthusiasm with which this project is being pursued, is marred only the perceived indifference of AbaQulusi municipal staff towards the water crisis and its impact on residents.

Water Affairs’ officials are flabbergasted that AbaQulusi municipal staff haven’t bothered to attend most water crisis meetings, which are being held weekly at the Zululand District municipality since the effects of the drought became crippling.

“AbaQulusi municipality has not been attending meetings and they have offered no explanation for it,” said chief engineer for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Water Affairs, Norman Ward. “I just don’t understand it. I can’t understand how they just don’t seem to care about the residents they serve.”

A complaint has been submitted to COGTA (the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs) regarding AbaQulusi municipality’s apathetic approach toward the water crisis.

Mr Ward went on to explain that the Klipfontein dam was constructed with the possibility in mind, of someday raising the dam wall. However, raising the dam wall to its full potential is expected to adversely affect the nearby road and railway line, so, at this stage, only a partial raising of the dam wall by three meters, is being considered.

“The raising of the dam wall by 3m should increase the capacity of the dam by 50%,” said Mr Ward, “We are also looking at alternative sources of water for Ulundi so that we no longer have to release water from Klipfontein to that area. This will mean more water for Vryheid.”

Chief engineer for the national Department of Water Affairs, Kobus Bester, said the Umfolozi River Regional Water Supply Scheme project is currently underway.

This feasibility study of the Umfolozi River will take an in-depth look at the water resources in the area, looking at the possibility of building off-channel storage dams to ensure water security.

Water Affairs engineers are hoping to fast track the raising of the Klipfontein dam wall by prioritising this project.

“As part of our hydrology study, we will look at the rainfall patterns, how much water is in the river, what the land usage is, and what the water requirements for the area are,” said Mr Bester. “We have been to Klipfontein Dam and had a look at when raising the wall can take place. Once we are certain about the technical and safety issues, we can go ahead. However, when you touch a dam wall, you need all kinds of licences and this can take about a year to obtain. Then we will need to procure the technology before the final design.”

Mr Bester warned that, despite recent rains, Vryheiders are not out of the woods yet as far as the drought is concerned. “I personally think the worst has past, but it will be a long time before the rivers will start to run again. This truly has been the worst drought in 80 years. We will only know, from a water resource point of view, in February if things are getting better or not.”

Former editor of the Vryheid Herald, John Carnegie, has been asking for the relevant authorities to raise the Klipfontein dam wall for about 20 years and says, “It’s better late than never.”

Doug Grewar of the AbaQulusi Ratepayers’ Association said it was an excellent idea to raise the dam wall as it will mean that Vryheid can store more water. “It should have been done many years ago,” he agreed.

AfriForum chairman, André van der Walt, concluded, “This is something that we have been waiting for 20 years for, so it’s great that it is finally happening. The drought, sadly, is far from over. It is going to take a flood to bring everything back to normal. It also worries me that sewage is still flowing into Klipfontein dam. I reported it to Water Affairs four months ago and again last week.”