Blood, sweat and tears at Riviersonderend

Index to South African Periodicals

Date

2011-05-01

Language

English

Media Type

general article

Pages

22-25

Keywords

Environmental conservation, Water storage, Ground conditions, Eerste River, Geological formations, Water distribution, National Library of South Africa, Kleinplaas Dam, Theewaterskloof Dam, YES, NX@, PO Bx 937, Pretoria 0001, docdel@nlsa.ac.za, 2022/03/04, 2022/03/06, P8998, Earth fill dams, Riviersonderend Berg River water scheme, Assegaaibos Dam, Jonkershoek Tunnel system, Wolwekloof River, Tunnel constructions

Author(s)

Van Vuuren, L.

Publication Title

water wheel

Volume

10

ISSN

0258-2244

Description

Gives an overview of the development and construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam in the Riviersonderend-Berg River water scheme. Notes that this project was described as one of the most impressive civil engineering projects of the 1980's because it linked two water-rich catchments through a series of tunnels to where water was needed. Describes the construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam, a conventional earth fill dam then the connecting tunnel through the Franschoek mountains to the Berg River valley. Reports that the construction of subsequent tunnels from the Assegaaibos Dam and the Jonkershoek Tunnel system to the Kleinplaas Dam into the Eerste River presented immense challenges to the engineers because of ground conditions and varying geological formations. Concludes that at all times environmental conservation played an important part and disturbed areas were restored as naturally as possible. Illustrates with photographs.

Subject

WATER, GEOLOGY, CONSERVATION, CIVIL ENGINEERING, NATURAL RESOURCES, Dams