Dams in South Africa

Dams

  • Presently there are a large number of dams all over South Africa that store this precious water but as our human population increases these dams will be insufficient for the future. 
  • South Africa cannot afford to build more dams as they cost huge amounts of money. 
  • Thus water in South Africa is in great demand, and as the human population increases with its increasing needs for survival, the greater is the demand for water.

Water Quality

  • A further problem adding to this demand is water quality.  
  • Water quality is defined as water which is safe, drinkable and appealing to all life on earth. 
  • In South Africa the scarce fresh water is decreasing in quality because of an increase in pollution and the destruction of river catchments, caused by urbanization, deforestation, damming of rivers, destruction of wetlands, industry, mining, agriculture, energy use, and accidental water pollution.

As the human population increases, there is an increase in pollution and catchment destruction.

  The Autshumato Dam was previously called the Berg River Dam.

 

 Dams of South Africa

The top 10 dams in South Africa:

 

No.

Name

River

Province

Full Capacity
(x 100 000 m3)

1

Gariep Dam

Orange (Senqu) River

Border: Free State and Eastern Cape

5340.6

2

Vanderkloof Dam

Orange (Senqu) River

Border: Free State and Northern Cape

3171.3

3

Sterkfontein Dam

Nuwejaar Spruit

Free State

2616.9

4

Vaal Dam

Vaal River

Border: Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Free State

2603.4

5

Pongolapoort Dam

Phongolo River

KwaZulu-Natal

2267.1

6

Bloemhof Dam

Vaal River

Border: North West and Free State

1240.2

7

Theewaterskloof Dam

Riviersonderend

Western Cape

480.2

8

Heyshope Dam

Assegaai River

Mpumalanga

451.3

9

Woodstock Dam

Tugela River

KwaZulu-Natal

373.3

10

Loskop Dam

Olifants River

Mpumalanga

361.5