Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina recently commissioned the world’s highest Piano Key Weir dam, Hazelmere Dam, in KwaZulu-Natal, to boost water supply to eThekwini Metro, iLembe, and Kwa-Dakuza municipalities.
This state-of-the-art dam is expected to bring relief to areas struggling with water supply issues, including Tongaat and Verulam.
The Department of Water and Sanitation raised the dam wall by 7 meters to increase storage capacity and augment water supply to areas like Verulam, Groutville, Blythedale, and Ballito. Minister Majodina emphasized the crucial role municipalities play in ensuring water reticulation to households.
“The Department of Water and Sanitation upgraded the Hazelmere Dam wall to meet the needs of the increasing population in the North Coast as it is our role to ensure bulk water supply. The concerned municipalities should now roll up their sleeves to ensure that water is directed to households,” said Majodina.
KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast has experienced rapid growth, particularly in housing, leading to increased demand for potable water. The department believes the dam wall extension will address water challenges in parts of the three municipalities.
The project entailed raising the dam wall from 86m to 93m, retrofitting a Piano Key Weir onto the existing spillway structure, installing 83 rock anchors, and foundation grouting. The dam features an uncontrolled PKW spillway to withstand extreme flood concentrations.
Majodina noted that Hazelmere Dam is now among the country’s state-of-the-art dams, meeting world-class standards due to its innovative technology and spillway selection.
Some notable technologies used in the upgrade include the world’s highest Piano Key Weir, largest anchors to improve stability, and largest capacity post-tensioning stressing jacks. Innovative data management software and 3D digital crack meters were also employed.
The project created employment opportunities for 187 locals, including 16 women and 53 youth. Eleven Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMME) were appointed, with two being women-owned. Additionally, 14 engineers received successful training, with some obtaining professional registration.
