eWISA Water History 1953-2010

eWISA Water History
1953-2010
1953: Construction of the Beervlei Dam in the Groot Rivier near Willowmore
Beervlei Dam
1955: Construction of the Rustfontein Dam in the Modder
River near Dewetsdorp
Rustfontein Dam
1956: Johannesburg sewerage: Construction of the Northern Works began in 1956 and the
first 45.4 Ml/day plant was completed in 1959.
1956: In February 1956 Tzaneen Dam recorded 987
mm.
1956: Promulgation of the Water Act (no.54 of 1956)
1957: The Wemmershoek Dam near Franchhoek was
completed in 1957, and is in the Wemmershoek River
Wemmershoek Dam
1957: In 1957 the Uitenhage Subterranean Water Control Area was established to regulate
and control abstraction.
1958: In January 1958 the tropical cyclone Astrid was responsible for washing away Wyllie's
Poort pass just north of Louis Trichardt. Subsequently a tunnel was built through the
Soutpansberg mountains. In January 899 mm fell at Duiwelskloof.
(http://www.weathersa.co.za/Pressroom/2000/2000Feb4to14HeavyRain&Floods.jsp)
1958: Construction of the Allemanskraal Dam (Sand
River/Vet River/Vaal River)
Allemanskraal Dam
1959: Flooding of the Sand, Letaba and Selati Rivers in North Eastern Transvaal on 7
January 1958 with large scale devastation of homes, bridges and crops. Half the black population
of Messina's homes washed away. (Ref.10). (tropical cyclone Astrid)
1959: Construction of the Erfenis Dam in the Groot Vet River near
Theunissen
1959: Construction of the Ebenezer Dam in the Groot Letaba near
Tzaneen.
Erfenis Dam
Ebenezer Dam
1959: The completion of the wall of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi, a double curvature
concrete arch dam, one of the largest dams in the world.
1959: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: The construction of the first Daspoort/Rooiwal outfall
sewer, with a diameter of 1060 mm, commenced in 1954. Completion of the pipeline coincided
with the completion of the first Rooiwal plant (biofilters) with a capacity of 13.5 Ml/day in 1959
1960-1969
1960: In 1960 the height of the Vaal Dam was raised
to 60 m.
1960: Construction of the Midmar Dam on the Mgeni
River - KwaZulu-Natal.
Midmar Dam
1960: The SA branch of the Institute of Sewage and
Purification (ISP) started to run a Sewage Works Operators Course. Mr.N.Nicolle, City Chemist
of Pretoria was the Honorary Secretary of the Operators Course.
1960: Johannesburg sewerage: The 30.6 km long Diepsloot Kelvin pumping scheme for the
provision of cooling water to the Kelvin Power Station using sewage effluent from the Northern
Works, was built during 1960 to 1962.
1961: Construction of the Arlington Dam in the Hammanspruit near Arlington.
1961: Johannesburg sewerage: Mr.B.L.Loffell. City Engineer of Johannesburg - 1961 to 1975.
The sewerage system, extended to cope into the future, showed Brian Loffell's concern for
aesthetic considerations
1961: The Spioenkop Dam (in the Tugela River) was
constructed to regulate flow downstream of the Driel Barrage
and also supplies water to Ladysmith and supports water
requirements for the farmers between the dam and the
confluence of the Little Thukela River.
Spioenkop Dam
1961: Construction of the Craigie Burn Dam, Myamvubu
River/Mooi River/Buffels River/Tugela River
Craigie Burn Dam
1961: Ntshingwayo Dam (previously known as
Chelmsford Dam) was completed in 1961. (near
Newcastle)
Ntshingwayo Dam
1962: In 1962 an autonomous Institution of Municipal Engineers of Southern Africa was
formed
Nooitgedacht Dam
1962: The Nooitgedacht Dam in the Komati River was
commissioned in 1962.
1963: Johannesburg sewerage: The capacity of the Northern Works was extended to 57
Ml/day.
1963: Johannesburg sewerage: The Northern Works was officially opened by the Mayor,
Councillor J.F.Oberholzer on 6 November 1963. It was adjudged by the South African Institute of
Civil Engineers as one of the "Seven wonders of Civil Engineering in South Africa".
1963: The Wagendrift Dam was constructed in 1963 on the
Bushmans River, a tributary of the Thukela River.
Wagendrift Dam
1966: The Clanwilliam Dam (Olifants River) wall was
raised by 6 m (3 m sluice gates).
Clanwilliam Dam
1966: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: The
Baviaanspoort wastewater plant was completed to coincide with the completion of a 900 mm
diameter outfall sewer from Mamalodi
1966: Great damage in Maputo and heavy rain in the Transvaal Lowveldt on 7 January 1996
due to a cyclone
1967: The SA branch of the Institute of Sewage and Purification (ISP) changed its name to the
Institute of Water Pollution Control (IWPC).
1967: Construction of the Idas Valley Dam in the Krom River (tributary of the Eerste River) near
Stellenbosch.
Arieskraal Dam
1967: Construction of the Arieskraal Dam in the
Palmiet River near Grabouw.
1968: Severe flooding in Port Elizabeth on 1 September 1968. Communication links broken,
streets demolished, buildings, buses, cars, trees, people and animals washed away. Damage
estimated at R 400 million. Eleven people drowned.
1969: Construction of the Saulspoort Dam in the Liebenbergs River near Bethlehem in the Free
State
1969: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: During 1969 a second (Derdepoort/Rooiwal) outfall
sewer from Pretoria East was constructed.
1970-1979
1970: The Bloemhof Dam in the Vaal River was commissioned in 1970. Also supply water to the
Vaalharts scheme.
Bloemhof Dam
1971: Construction of the Lorna Dawn Dam in the Middle Letaba River near Duiwelskloof
1971: The WRC was established in terms of the Water Research Act (Act No 34 of
1971), following a period of serious water shortage. It was deemed to be of national
importance to generate new knowledge and to promote the country‟s water research
purposefully, owing to the view held that water would be one
of South Africa‟s most limiting factors in the 21st century.
1971: The Gariep Dam is a combined gravity/arch dam and
the wall is approximately 90 m high. The dam supplies water
to the Sundays/Fish Rivers via a tunnel. The dam was
completed in 1971.
Gariep Dam
1971: The Albasini Dam wall was raised (by means of
spillway gates) in 1970/71. This dam was built primarily to
supply the Levubu Irrigation Scheme. In the Luvuvhu River
(Limpopo)
Albasini Dam
1973: The Natal College for Advanced Technical Education became on of the first colleges in
South Africa (with the assistance of the Natal Group of the IWPC and the City Engineers
Department of Durban), along with the Pretoria college to offer the new Water And Wastewater
Purification Operators Course and Examination.
1973: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: Completion of two new biofilter units, known as the
Rooiwal East works.
1973: The Welbedacht Dam on the Caledon River was designed and constructed by the
Department of Water Affairs and was completed in 1973.
1974: On 4 March 1974 flooding caused millions of
Rands' damage along the Modder and Riet Rivers. At
Upington the Orange River flooded 80% of the houses on the
island and along the river. Fish River valley experienced
worst flood in 120 years. In Cradock 200 homes were
inundated.
Welbedacht Dam
1974: Established in 1974, Umgeni Water is one of Africa's most successful
organisations involved in water management and the largest bulk water supplier in the
province of KwaZulu-Natal.
1974: Construction of the Lakenvalley Dam in the Sanddrifskloof River near Ceres.
1974: Construction of the Elandskloof Dam in the Elands
River (tributary of the Riviersonderend) near Villiersdorp.
1974: Johannesburg Water Supply: Some PVC mains were
laid as an experiment as steel pipe became difficult to obtain
Lakenvalley Dam
1975: Construction of the Spitskop Dam in the Harts River (tributary of the Vaal) near
Warrenton.
1975: Johannesburg Water Supply: The Council started to line pipes with cement mortar in
Saxonwold, but financial stringencies brought this to a halt in the following year.
1975: Barberspan in the North-West designated as a RAMSAR site on 12 March 1975.
1975: De Hoop Vlei in the Western Cape designated as a
RAMSAR site on 12 March 1975.
1975: Johannesburg Water Supply: In 1975 the Rand
Water Board began, after laboratory tests, to use
polyelectrolyte in the water treatment process. At first, it did
not seem to have a detrimental effect on the water quality
supplied to Johannesburg. But towards the end of 1976 an
Barberspan
increasing number of complaints were received about „dirty
water‟ which continued over subsequent years, particularly in the summer months.
1976: Some 50 people drowned as a result of floods caused by tropical cyclone Danae in 1976
when 426 mm fell in Levubu in January and there was heavy flooding in the Kruger National Park.
1977: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: Extension of the Rooiwal East works to 60 Ml/day.
1977: On 9 February 1977 a cyclone caused widespread flooding in the North-Eastern
Regions of South Africa. Ten people drowned at Tshipise near the Kruger National Park.
1977: Construction of the Miertjieskraal Dam in the Brand
River (tributary of the Gouritz) near Riversdale.
Miertjieskraal Dam
1977: The Sterkfontein Dam was commissioned in
1977 on the Nuwefaarspruit/Wilge River/ Vaal River.
Sterkfontein Dam
1977: Construction of the Misverstand Dam in the Groot
Berg River near Piketberg.
Misverstand Dam
1977: The part of the Fish-Sundays River Scheme where water from the Orange River water is
diverted from the Great Fish River to the Little Fish River via the 13,1 km Cookhouse Tunnel was
completed in 1978.
1977: Construction of the Eikenhof Dam in the Palmiet River near Grabouw
1978: Construction of the Grootdraai Dam in the Vaal River near Standerton
1978: Home, factories and flats in Pretoria flooded on 28 January 1978. 11 people dead.
1979: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: The first extensions to the Baviaanspoort wastewater
plant consisted of a 14.5 Ml/day BNR plant, utilizing the 5-stage Bardenpho process. This was
later upgraded to use the Phoredox process, increasing the capacity to 16 Ml/day.
1980-1989
1980: Johannesburg Sewerage: In the late 1980‟s, the Transvaal Province proposed that a new
town Norweto be established on the farm Diepsloot adjacent to the Northern Sewage Purification
Works
1980: Construction of the Theewaterskloof Dam in the
Reviersonderend River near Villiersdorp.
Theewaterskloof Dam
1980: Sterkfontein Dam was raised in 1980 to its current
height of 93m with a crest length of 3 060m and a full supply
capacity of 2 656 million m3.
Sterkfontein Dam
1981: Johannesburg Sewerage: Casper Coetzee who was the Plans Room Attendant in the
Design Branch carried out one of his periodic spring cleanings and unearthed the old drawings of
the slops line pumping scheme…[however] very little is known about the scheme
1981: Laingsburg was devastated by a flood of the
Buffels River on 25 January 1981. 104 people lost their
lives and only 21 houses were left standing. (185 homes,
an old-age home and 23 offices destroyed.
1982: The Ntshingwayo Dam (previously known as
Chelmsford Dam) was raised in 1982. (near
Newcastle.
1982: The Vondo Dam was completed in 1982 to provide domestic/industrial water for
Thohoyandou and its surrounding areas. This was then raised in 1992 to increase the dam‟s
storage capacity six-fold to 30,5 million m³. (Mutshindudi River/Luvhuvu River/Limpopo River)
1982: Johannesburg Water Supply: In the Annual Report of the Director of Technical Services,
in 1982/1983, Dr JG Mortimer states: 'The drought continued remorselessly and led to
progressively stricter water restrictions in an effort to conserve dwindling water reserves'.
1982: Johannesburg Water Supply: Burst main reports increased to about five hundred per
week.
1984: On 1 February 1984, the tropical cyclone Demoina killed more than 200 people in
Mozambique, Swaziland, Eastern Transvaal and North-Eastern Natal. Damage to sugar cane
fields estimated at R 470 million. Damages to bridges estimated at R 25 million. Most rain to fall in
one day at one point ever recorded in South Africa (597 mm at St Lucia lake).
1984: Construction on phase 1A of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (the Katse Dam)
began in 1984.
1984: Construction of the Goedertrouw Dam in the Mhlatuze River near Eshowe
1984: Construction of the Rhenosterkop Dam in the Elands River near Marble Hall
Rhenosterkop Dam
Roodekopjies Dam
1984: Construction of the Roodekopjies Dam in the Crocodile
River near Brits
1984: Construction of the Kogelberg Dam in the Palmiet River
near Grabouw
Kogelberg Dam
1984: Construction of the Stettynskloof Dam in the
Stettynskloof River near
Worcester.
Stettynskloof Dam
1984: Johannesburg Water Supply: A saving of 26%
was achieved in comparison to the year before restrictions, in spite of developments and
expansions.
1985: In 1960 the height of the Vaal Dam was raised to 63.5 m.
1985: Construction of the Heyshope Dam in the Assegaai River near Wakkerstroom.
1985: Major hailstorm striking Pretoria city center and surroundings on 1 November 1985.
Damage estimated at R 400 million. Roofs collapsed, windows of cars, homes and flats knocked
out.
1985: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: The construction of the Biological Mutrient Removal
(BNR) plant at Rooiwal (known as the Rooiwal North Works) commenced in March 1983 with a
design capacity of 110 Ml/day. With the integration of this new plant with the old Rooiwal West
works it brought the total BNR capacity to 150 Ml/day. This plant which incorporates a bubble
aeration system, was commissioned in 1985
1985: Johannesburg Water Supply: Due to the continuing drought conditions, water was
released from the Sterkfontein Dam to maintain the quantity stored in the Vaal Dam at 15,5% of a
capacity
1986: Construction of the Paul Sauer Dam in the Koega River near Patensie.
1986: Blesbokspruit in Gauteng designated as a RAMSAR site on 2 October 1986
1986: De Mond (Heuningnes Estuary) in the Western Cape designated as a RAMSAR site on
2 October 1986.
1986: St Lucia System in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR site on 2 October 1986.
1986: Turtle Beaches/Coral Reffs of Tongaland in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR
site on 2 October 1986.
1986: Pretoria water supply: Due to the continual debilitation of the water quality from the
Rietvlei Dam, it was decided to appoint consulting engineers to investiagted the causes and
solutions in cooperation with the National Institute of Water Research at the CSIR. This led to the
upgrading of the purification works that commenced in 1986
1986: The National ("N") Certificate Courses N1, N2 and N3 in Water and Wastewater
Treatment Practice were introduced (Technical Colleges)
1986: Johannesburg Water Supply: On October 24 1986 Lesotho and South Africa signed a
treaty in Maseru which approved the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The project will be
completed in four phases over thirty years, at a cost of 10 billion.
1987: The Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA) was formed in 1987 when
the Southern African branch of the Institute of Water Pollution Control (formerly the
institute of Sewage Purification), which had served the water industry in Southern
Africa for a period of 50 years, was disbanded.
1987: Descibed as the worst floods in Natal ever. On 28 september 1987, homes washed
away, collapsed or buried in mud. Thousands kilometers of roads damaged, 14 bridges washed
away, all entrance routes to durban closed. R 3 300 million damage, 388 deaths and 68 000
homeless
1987: Collapse of the John Ross Bridge on the N2 over the Thukela River during the Natal floods.
120 bridges were destroyed or severely damaged during these floods, causing substantial losses
to the economy.
1988: Johannesburg Water Supply: In July, the Water
Branch, an integral part of the City Engineer‟s Department for
many years was transferred in order to form a new Water and
Gas Department.
1988: On 29 February 1988, one of the greatest flood
disasters ever occurred in the Free State, Western Transvaal, Northern Cape and Karoo. In Free
State 47 bridges destroyed. 1300 homes evacuated in the Northern Cape. Thirty magisterial
districts declared disaster areas.
1988: Langebaan in the Western Cape designated as a RAMSAR site on 25 April 1988
1988: The Zaaihoek Dam (Slang River/Buffalo
River/Thukela River) was constructed in 1988 with an
original capacity of 193 million m3. Used to transfer water to
the Vaal system and the Majuba Power Station.
1988: Knellpoort Dam (50 m high - off-channel storage dam - water pumped from the Caledon
River) was completed in 1988. It was the first arch gravity Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dam
in the world 3.
1989: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: The Baviaanspoort wastewater plant was extended by
20 Ml/day. Module 1 has now been converted to a Phoredox system.
1990-1999
1990: On 20 March 1990 a tornado caused structural damage of R 230 million in Welkom.
Twenty square km affected
1990: Johannesburg sewerage: A survey of the world‟s 100 largest urban areas [was]
conducted by the Washington-based Population Crisis Committee [and] placed Johannesburg No
72 just ahead of Manila, Alexandria and Bangkok.
1990: Tshakhuma Dam was completed in 1990 to supply the Tshakhuma Irrigation scheme
(Barotta River/Luvhuvu River/Limpopo River)
1991: Pretoria sewerage reticulation: Due to a shortage of water in the Pienaars River valley,
the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry requested the Council to construct a new
wastewater treatment plant in that valley. This led to the extended planning of the Eastern Pretoria
drainage area that commenced in 182. Environmental impact studies and searches for a suitable
site led to the purchase of a number of plots to the west of the Roodeplaat Dam. A new plant, the
Zeekoegat Works, with a BNR capacity of 30 Ml/day was constructed and commissioned in 1991.
1991: Verlorevlei in the Western Cape designated as a RAMSAR site on 28 June 1991.
1991: Wilderness Lakes in the Western Cape designated as a RAMSAR site on 28 June 1991.
1991: Orange River Mouth in the Northen Cape designated as a RAMSAR site on 28 June
1991.
1991: Lake Sibaya in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR site on 28 June 1991.
1991: Kosi Bay in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR site on 28 June 1991.
1992: The Vondo Dam raised in 1992 to increase the dam‟s storage capacity six-fold to 30,5
million m³. (Mutshindudi River/Luvhuvu River/Limpopo River)
1992: The lower Fish River Scheme (initiated in 1985) was completed in 1992. The scheme
consists of the Hermanuskraal Weir in the Great Fish River with a tunnel to discharge flood water
and water released from the Orange River into the Glen Melville Dam in the Ecca River.
1992: The East Rand Water Care Company (ERWAT) is regarded as a leader in the
water industry, using the latest technology and the advances of science. ERWAT
offers a world-class, yet economic solution to water and wastewater management.
1993: Port Elizabeth water supply: The Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works was officially
opened by Councillor FH Kotze, Chairman of the Works and Traffic Committee, and in the
presence of the Mayor, Mr JC Nel, on Friday, 20 August 1993. The opening was followed by a
lunch at the local NG church hall. The commissioning of the Nooitgedagt Water Treatment Works
meant that water from Gariep Dam was now used by residential and industrial users of the Port
Elizabeth metropolitan area and the linkage achieved one of the original objectives of the Orange
River Development Project.
1993: On 3 November 1993 a tornado devasted a path of 35 km long and 200 m wide at
Utrecht. 40 people lost their homes in Glencoe. 7 people killed.
1994: Prof Kader ASMAL became the first Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry in
the post-apartheid era of South Africa (May 1994 - June 1999)
1994: Worst flood in 78 years occurred on 2 February 1994 at Ladismith (KwaZulu
Natal). Damage of R 60 million. More than 1000 families left homeless.
1994: Port Elizabeth water supply: A key development in the water supply occurred in July
1994 when the residential areas of Ibhayi, Kwadwesi, Kwamagxaki and Motherwell were
amalgamated with the rest of the city. Over the years these townships had been administered by
one or more of the following: Bantu Administration Board, East Cape Development Board, Cape
Provincial Administration and local authorities Kayamnandi, Motherwell and Ibhayi.
1994: White Paper on Water Supply and Sanitation Policy (November 1994). " This document
is dedicated to the millions of our citizens who struggle daily with the burden of not having the
most basic of services. The time has come to take your destinies into your own hands with the
assurance of support from our new democratic State." (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
1995: The Damani Dam (built in the mid 1990‟s) was originally constructed to supply water to
the Damani Coffee Estate (now dormant). It is now proposed to supply the Damani Regional
Water Supply Scheme from this dam in the Luvuvhu River (Limpopo).
1996: Water and sanitation for all: According to the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
1996 (Act 108 of 1996), everyone has a right to clean and safe drinking water and an appropriate
and dignified sanitation service.
1996: National Sanitation Policy (October 1996). " This policy has been produced in
recognition of the many people of our country, and in particular the children, that have endured
illness and hardship as a result of not having access to basic information about sanitation or the
use of adequate facilities. " (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
1996: Pretoria currently operates four wastewater treatment plants, namely Daspoort (45
Ml/day), Baviaanspoort (36 Ml/day), Zeekoegat (30 Ml/day) and Rooiwal (210 Ml/day).
1997: Natal Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR site on 21 January
1997.
1997: Ndomo Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal designated as a RAMSAR site on 21 January
1997.
1997: Seekoeivlei Nature Reserve in the Free State designated as a RAMSAR site on 21
January 1997.
1997: WHITE PAPER ON A NATIONAL WATER POLICY FOR SOUTH AFRICA (April 1997). "
This White Paper is the product of two years of hard work and wide consultation. The first outcome
was the production of the Fundamental Principles and Objectives for a New Water Law in South
Africa which were approved by the Cabinet in November 1996. These Principles have in turn
guided an intensive programme of work involving the Minister and other political leaders, officials
from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and other Government Departments, organised
user groups and South Africans from all walks of life and from all provinces in a process of
consultation, research and synthesis. " (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
1997: In May 1997, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry announced that an important
milestone had been reached. The completion of a new scheme in Modderspruit in the North West
Province saw the one millionth person receiving a basic water supply from the RDP
programme. (DWAF A decade of Water Services in South Africa 1994 - 2004)
1997: Amatola Water Board was established in November 1997.
1997: In 1997 the name of Institution of Municipal Engineers of Southern Africa was changed to
The Institution of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA). It is also now possible
for non-engineers to become members so as to cater for previously disadvantaged members.
1997: In November 1997, the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) legislated DWAF‟s 1994
White Paper vision that local government would ultimately take responsibility for water services.
The Act made a clear distinction between Water Services Authorities (WSAs) and Water Services
Providers (WSPs). (DWAF A decade of Water Services in South Africa 1994 - 2004)
1998: The "New Water Act" ( National Water Act, 1998) (Act 36 of 1998), was implemented.
1998: Phase 1A of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (the Katse Dam) began delivering
water in 1998.
1998: Nylsvley Nature Reserve in Limpopo designated as a RAMSAR site on 7 July 1998
1999: Draft Water Conservation and Demand management National Strategy Framework
(May 1999). " This document lays out the key principles, legislative, economic and social
frameworks that would guide a national water conservation and demand
management strategy. " (Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
1999: Mr Ronald Kasrils became Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry of the
Republic of South Africa (1999 - 2004).
eWISA Water History
21st Century
2000-2010
2000: WISA History: When WISA was founded in 1987 it operated as a legally accepted
“Association not for gain” with a constitution that was lodged with the Receiver of Revenue.
Exemption from the payment of income tax was thereafter granted. However, with the increasing
growth of the Institute it became necessary for WISA to register with the Receiver in terms of VAT
legislation and in January 2000 it was finally registered in terms of the South African Companies
Act as a not for gain Section 21 company, as the WATER INSTITUTE OF SOUTHERN AFRICA.
2000: From 4 February until about the 14th,
many areas in the Northern Province,
Mpumulanga and Gauteng have experienced
heavy rainfalls and severe floods due to the
tropoical cyclone Eline. Estimates of
structural damage are reaching R1 billion and
flood-related deaths are about 50. Crop
spoilage and losses have not yet been
calculated. In this period 630 mm fell at
Graskop, 612 mm at Levubu, and 593 mm at
Tzaneen (Grenshoek).
Hartebeespoort Dam
2000: The Beervlei Dam near Willowmore was
overflowing for the first time in 12 years
Beervlei Dam
2000: Minister Kasrils announced in September 2000 the provision of free basic water and
sanitation services. It was proposed that a basic water supply of 25 litres per person per day
would be provided free to each household every month (this amounts to 6 kiloliters per household
per month). The costs of maintaining a basic sanitation facility – normally understood as a
ventilated improved pit latrine (VIP) – would also be covered.
2000: On 5 December 2000 a new metropole was established. The metro was named the Nelson
Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and comprised of the former municipalities of Port Elizabeth,
Despatch and Uitenhage, and certain rural areas of the Western District Council. The new metro
stretches from the Van Stadens River in the west to the Sundays River in the
east.
2001: Johannesburg Water was established as an independent company
with the City of Johannesburg as sole shareholder in 2001.
2001: Verloren Valei Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga designated as a RAMSAR
site on 16 October 2001.
2001: Masibambane 1 was launched in April 2001. The founding purpose was
"to support and strengthen the water and sanitation services sector in South Africa
as a whole. Masibambane I targeted the three most disadvantaged provinces of KwaZulu Natal,
Limpopo and the Eastern Cape.
2002: Raising of the Midmar Dam wall completed. ( Mgeni River - KwaZulu-Natal).
2003: The South African Institute of Civil Engineering (SAICE) awarded the Lesotho Highlands
Water Project as "project of the century"
2003: DISASTER DECLARED IN WESTERN CAPE FLOOD AREAS. Several areas in the
Western Cape Province have experienced heavy rain and floods since 23 March 2003, causing
severe damage to infrastructure such as buildings, essential services, roads and bridges. The
floods have also left many families homeless. At its peak the water in the Cogmanskloof river was
flowing at a rate of 1 070 cubic metres per second. This represents approximately a 1:20 year
flood recurrence and is nearly of the same extent than the 1981 Laingsburg floods. The houses in
the low lying (flood plain) residential area in Montagu were flooded. The Bellair dam broke. Floods
threaten Barrydale and Van Wyksdorp. The Gouritz river is in flood. The Informal Settlement in
George is threatened. Sedgefield Island is cut-off from the outside world. Knysna - chalets at the
Blackwater Inn are severely damaged. Buffelsbaai - telephone and power lines are down. The
Wolwedans and Grootbrak dams are flooding. The Duiwenshok river in Heidelberg is in flood
causing damage to the bridge on the N2 highway.
2004: The Sundays River Irrigation Board, established in 1917, was transformed on 22 August
2004 into the Lower Sundays River Water User Association.
2004: 13,4 Million people have been provided with a basic water supply through different
Government programmes including 10 million people through the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry, between 1994 and March 2004. (DWAF - A decade of Water Services in South Africa
1994 - 2004)
2004: Approximately 6,9 million people have been provided with sanitation facilities between
1994 and March 2004, the majority through housing programmes. (DWAF - A decade of Water
Services in South Africa 1994 - 2004)
2004: Government has invested a total of R14,8 billion between 1994 and March 2004 on water
and sanitation services; R11,3 billion of which was invested in water supply and R3,5 billion in
sanitation services. (DWAF - A decade of Water Services in South Africa 1994 - 2004)
2004: A second three-year cycle of Masibambane activities started in April 2004, covering all
provinces.
2004: Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica became Minister of Water Affairs and
Forestry of the Republic of South Africa (29 April 2004 - 22 May 2006).
2005: The construction of the Berg River Dam (Berg
Water Project) in the Western Cape commenced in 2005.
Berg River Dam
2005: The Nandoni Dam in the Luvuvhu River (Limpopo)
was scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2005
Nandoni Dam
2005: eWISA, The capacity-building and knowledge-sharing arm of WISA was established. A
partnership between WISA and WAMTechnology.
2006: Mrs Lindiwe Benedicta Hendricks Minister of Waters Affairs
and Forestry of the Republic of South Africa since 22 May 2006 .
2006: Heavy rains caused
severe flood damage to property and infra-structure in
the Southern Cape.
2007: The construction of the Osplaas Dam at Dedoorns in
the Western Cape commenced in January 2007.
2007: Makuleke Wetlands in Mpumalanga designated as
a RAMSAR site on 22 May 2007.
Osplaas Dam
2007: Heavy rains in the Southern Cape resulted in
severe floods. Damage to infrastructure and the agricultural sector was estimated > R 600
million. More than 1200 sheep drowned or died due to cold only on one farm near
Riviersonderend.
2008: Heavy rains along the KZN South Coast resulted in severe floods. In certain areas
more than 400 mm rain was recorded on 18 June 2008. Four people died, another four are
missing and about 500 were left homeless after hard, unremitting rain hit the region on Tuesday
afternoon. All the rivers in the area are flooded. Suburbs were at times cut off from the outside
world, bridges were under water and mudslides occurred on parts of the N2. At Umkomaas two
children died and two people were missing after a bakkie was swept away by the floodwaters and
at Umzinto after an embankment collapsed due to the rain and a large tree fell on his flat.
2008: Berg River Dam release mechanisms tested to ensure compliance with the
Ecological Reserve. The flood release radial arm gate of the Berg River Dam was tested on 11
and 12 June 2008 with the release of flows of various magnitudes. The maximum release of 200
cubic metres per second was tested on 12 June 2008. This is a milestone in the implementation
and compliance with the requirements of the Ecological Reserve, which is a legal requirement
under the South African Water Act, and in accordance to the record of decision for the
construction and operation of the Berg River Dam.
2009: Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica became Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa.
2010-2020
eWISA Water History
References
1. .Bartolomeu Dias Museum. Mossel Bay
2. .Woodhead Dam. 100 years. Centenary. City of Cape Town. ISBN 1-87492472-4
3. Tony Murray. History of Rivers and Drainage in the Cape Metropolitan
Area.
4. Timeline: Water Supply to the City: The first 300 years – circa
5. Raymer, David Anthony. A HISTORY OF PORT ELIZABETH AND
UITENHAGE’S WATER SUPPLY. Raymer, David Anthony, civil engineer.
Employed as graduate engineer in July 1980. Promoted to Assistant Water
Engineer in 1988 and Water Engineer (Operations) in 1990. Appointed
Assistant Manager (Bulk Water & Water Management) in 2004. Resigned in
February 2007 to work for consultants. He is the author of the book, Streams
of Life: A History of Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage’s Water Supply. * Port
Elizabeth 22.8.1953
6. Institute for Municipal Engineering in South Africa.
(http://imesa.vdw.co.za/AM/Template.cfm?Section=History&Template=/C
M/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=1479)
7. Wide Blue
8. Water, Water, everywhere...
(http://www.joburg.org.za/2004/dec/dec24_water.stm)
9. Scanned document "THE HISTORY OF WATER SUPPLY TO PRETORIA"
received from Mr.Koot Snyman of City of Tshwane.
10. Grobler, Roger R. (1996). A Framework for Modelling Losses arising from
Natural Catastrophes in South Africa. University of Pretoria.
11. Grant, George & Flinn, Taffy (1992). Watershed Town. The History of the
Johannesburg City Engineer's Department.
12. Table Mountain
13. Management of the WATER RESOURCES of the Replubic of SOUTH
AFRICA. The Department of Water Affairs. 1986.
14. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry - Sterkfontein Dam (
http://www.dwaf.gov.za/orange/Vaal/sterkfon.htm )
15. WISA: PAST AND PRESENT (Acknowledgement: The idea for this started
while chatting with Eric Hall, who also started the ball rolling with some of
his memories. The bulk of what is contained here is the work of Dave
Osborne - also known as the "father" of WISA - who painstakingly
researched the issue, and to whom we are deeply indepted)
16. Scanned document "Sewerage reticulation and waste water treatment"
received from Mr.Koot Snyman of City of Tshwane.
17. Information by e-mail: DARRYL MOSS. General Manager - Mining
Distribution. Metso Minerals. E-mail: [email protected]
18. Rand Water Corporate Profile
19. On route in South Africa - BPJ Erasmus
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