Clanwilliam Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Olifants River, near Clanwilliam, Western Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1935, and the wall was raised to its current height of 43 metres (141 ft) in 1964.[1] The main purpose of the dam is to provide irrigation water to the agricultural region downstream. It has a water storage capacity of 121,800,000 cubic metres (4.30×109 cu ft).[2]
| Clanwilliam Dam | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in the Western Cape | |
| Official name | Clanwilliam Dam |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | Western Cape |
| Coordinates | 32°11′5″S 18°52′1″E / 32.18472°S 18.86694°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Opening date | 1935 (wall raised in 1964) |
| Owner(s) | Department of Water Affairs |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Olifants River |
| Height | 43 m (141 ft) |
| Length | 235 m (771 ft) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Clanwilliam Dam Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 121,800,000 m3 (4.30×109 cu ft) |
| Surface area | 1,124 ha (2,780 acres) |
The feasibility of raising the dam wall by another 15 metres has been investigated.
In 2015 an infrastructure development company has been appointed to do the supervision and contracts management of the project to raise the dam level. As of August 2015 the dam is planned to be raised by 13 meters, increasing its capacity by 70 million cubic metres of water.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Holtzhausen, Lani (2006). "Dam Project Could Improve Aquatic Environment". The Water Wheel. Vol. 5, no. 1. Water Research Commission. ISSN 0258-2244. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
- ^ "Clanwilliam Dam". Dams of South Africa. Water Institute of South Africa. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 7 March 2010.
- ^ "Bigen Africa appointed to manage extension of Clanwilliam Dam". Retrieved 2 January 2016.
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