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Lesotho Highland Water Project (Features of Scheme (Polihali Dam will hold…
Lesotho Highland Water Project
Summary of Scheme
Aims to solve water shortage in South Africa
On completion, 40% of the water from the Orange River in Lesotho will be transferred to the River Vaal in South Africa
It will take 3 decades to complete
Features of Scheme
Polihali Dam will hold 2.2 billion cubic metres of water with a 38 km transfer tunnel
Water is then transferred to South Africa via a 32 km tunnel enabling hydro-electric power to be produced at the Muela plant
Tsoelike Dam will be built at the confluence of the Tsoelike River and Senqu River. It will have a storage capacity of 2,223 million cubic metres and a pumping station
Ntoahae Dam and pumping station will be built 40 km downstream from Tsoelike Dam on the Senqu River
Katse Dam and Mohale Dam (completed in 1998 and 2002) store water that is transferred through a tunnel to the Mohale Reservoir)
By 2020 - there will be 200 km of tunnels and 2,000 million cubic metres of water will be transferred to South Africa per annum
Advantages
Lesotho
Supplies the nation with all its hydro-electric power requirements
Improvements to transport infrastructure with access roads built to construction sites
Income from scheme helps development and improves standard of living
Water supply will reach 90% of population of capital, Maseru
Provides 75% of GDP
Sanitation coverage will increase from 15% to 20%
South Africa
Provides safe water for the 10% of population without access to safe water supply
Freshwater reduces the acidity of Vaal River Reservoir. Water pollution from industry, gold mines and sewage was destroying the local ecosystem
Provides water to area with uneven rainfall pattern and regular droughts
Influx of water from Lesotho is restoring the balance
Disadvantages
Lesotho
Destruction of a unique wetland ecosystem due to control of regular flooding downstream of the dams
Corruption has prevented money and investment reaching those affected by the construction
Building of first two dams meant 30,000 people had to be moved
Construction of Polihali Dam will displace 17 villages and reduce agricultural land for 71 villages
South Africa
40% of water lost through leakages
Increased water tariffs to pay for scheme are too high for poorest people
Costs likely to reach $4 billion
Corruption has plagued entire project