New dam brings fresh hope to thirsty Ugu District
The Ncwabeni Dam, inland of Mehlomnyama, will have a gross storage capacity of 15 million cubic metres of water.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu has responded to the increasing demand for water in the Ugu District by instructing Umgeni Water to begin construction on the Ncwabeni Dam.
Although the project was first mooted several years ago, Umgeni Water has said it was now ready to begin the process of building the dam inland of Mehlomnyama which will be used for off channel storage.
This is intended to secure a more reliable source of water and to meet the increased demand from downstream users supplied by the Umzimkhulu River.
According to Angus Nicoll of Umgeni Water, speaking during a visit to the site of the new dam on Tuesday this week, the off channel storage dam would be able to store water during the high-flow season, for use during the low-flow season.
The dam will also be able to relieve Mhlabashane dam.
The Umgeni officials added that an abstraction point would also be built on the Mzimkhulu river in order to provide a pumping point for the off channel storage dam.
The dam will have a gross storage capacity of 15 million cubic metres of water and will be about 50 metres high.
Ugu District mayor Sizwe Ngcobo said he was thankful for the project as it would help the many communities facing water problems in the district.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
