Qedusizi Dam Explained

Qedusizi Dam
Name Official:Qedusizi Dam
Dam Crosses:Klip River
Res Name:Qedusizi Dam
Location:KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Operator:Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dam Length:1 437 m
Dam Height:24.3m
Dam Type:Composite: Roller-compacted concrete spillway, earth-fill embankments
Construction Began:1994
Opening:1997 November 21
Res Capacity Total:194 000 000 m3
Res Catchment:1585 km2
Res Surface:2 513 ha
Coordinates:-28.5419°N 29.7447°W

Qedusizi Dam, previously known as the Mt Pleasant Dam, is a composite type dam with a roller-compacted concrete (RCC) or 'rollcrete' spillway and earth-fill embankments. It is located on the Klip River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa upstream of the town of Ladysmith. Site preparation began in 1994, was completed in 1997 and serves mainly as a flood attenuation and control dam to reduce flooding in the town of Ladysmith. The town is located in a loop of the Klip River and was established there primarily for defense reasons in 1847 by Boers before being annexed by the British. It has experienced numerous floods ever since.

The outlet at the base of the dam is uncontrolled with a maximum flow capacity of 400 m3s−1.[1] The hazard potential of the dam has been ranked high (3).

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Notes and References

  1. Book: van Vuuren . Lani . In the Footsteps of Giants – Exploring the history of South Africa's large dams . 2012 . Water Research Commission, South Africa . Pretoria . 234–235 . 31 March 2022.