Lesotho Highlands Water Project Closure Extended Due to Maintenance Delays

The Department of Water and Sanitation has extended the closure of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s tunnels by three weeks due to maintenance delays caused by technical issues and weather fluctuations. Despite this, the Vaal Dam is at full capacity, ensuring sufficient water resources for local municipalities. The Saulspoort Dam remains in good standing, supporting nearby communities for an extended duration.

The Department of Water and Sanitation has announced an extension of the closure of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project’s water transfer tunnels due to maintenance delays. Spokesperson Wisane Mavasa reported that the closure was extended by three weeks due to issues in the Delivery Tunnel South on the Lesotho side, which include unforeseen technical challenges and changing weather patterns.

The 37-kilometer tunnel was initially set to close from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The completion date for the water release into the tunnel will be communicated upon finishing the ongoing maintenance work. Mavasa indicated that the challenges stemmed from increased seepage due to a change in the sandblasting technique, necessitating additional equipment to manage this issue effectively.

Despite the delays affecting the tunnel project, recent heavy rains have replenished the Vaal Dam, which is now at full capacity, thus alleviating concerns regarding water availability for the Integrated Vaal River System. Municipalities dependent on the Liebenbergsvlei River will remain unaffected due to the satisfactory levels of the Sol Plaatjie (Saulspoort) Dam, recorded at 82.1% this week.

The availability of water from the Saulspoort Dam is expected to support communities like Bethlehem, Reitz, and Tweeling for up to nine months, surpassing the anticipated six months of the Lesotho project’s shutdown. Furthermore, the South African Weather Service has issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms, emphasizing ongoing local weather uncertainties.

In summary, the prolonged maintenance of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has prompted a three-week extension of the tunnel closure. However, due to recent rains, water availability remains secured through full reservoirs like the Vaal Damn and sufficient operational reserves in other local dams. Current assessments reassure that impacted communities will continue to receive adequate water supply despite the extension of maintenance.

Original Source: www.citizen.co.za