The Ebenhaeser Dam and Related Works Project

The water needs of local farmers and citizens in the Municipal communities of Ebenhaeser, Papendorp, Strandfontein and Doornbaai, located in the Western Cape were not being met, and required a more readily available supply to maintain their fields and provide potable water.  To address the needs of all the water rightsholders in the region, a balancing dam, with a capacity of 140 000 cubic metres, was constructed near Ebenhaeser to increase the capacity of the main canal.  The main canal was traditionally used as the primary source for drawing water for irrigation, and a lack of rain during 2003/04 resulted in a below average volume of water.  Consequently, small yields were experienced by farmers closer to the end of the established canal lines because the majority of water used for irrigation had been consumed before it worked its way down the pipeline. 

A balancing dam was created to mitigate water loss in the region during the wet season, and to marginalize the effects droughts have on heavily water dependent crops during the dry season.  Water is sourced by diverting surplus flows into a holding dam, which is then used as irrigation and drinking water.  At times of seasonal change, when normal shortages would appear in the main canal, four automatically controlled, variable speed drive pumps, pump water back into the main canal to maintain required quota levels. This has resulted in water levels in the canal at the point of control attaining a level of stabilisation, and surplus flows previously lost, because of a lack of capacity, now being utilised.

In order to address the point of contention regarding the Municipalality's use of water from the Ebenhaeser canal to generate drinking water, a municipal pump system using a 1.3 km rising main, was installed to pump water directly from the balancing dam to the water purification works.  This effectively mitigated conflicts stemming from the over-consumption of water in a system where Ebenhaeser was last in a series of draws from the original canal.  Engineering services from the Department of Agriculture (DoA), in the Western Cape, managed the project, while the Ebenhaeser Water Committee undertook the rehabilitation of the 5km canal. Specialized contractors installed the canal lining, pumps and constructed the dam.

The Lower Olifants River Water User Association undertook miscellaneous civil works, and the rehabilitation of the surrounding areas after the dam was completed.

Participation amongst the organisations varied from co-operative facilitation and information sharing, to formal contractual agreements.  During the execution of the project the local community was continuously involved with all aspects of the work and decision-making.  The community took ownership of the project, and became responsible for the infrastructure development that supported poverty alleviation resulting in an improved quality of life in their own community as well as the larger region.

Innovation

Innovative technical engineering included lining the dam basin with high-density polyethylene that increased the life expectancy of the lining. Another innovation was the design of a series of four automatic variable speed drive pumps to augment canal flows at times when canal shortages occurred.

Effectiveness

The effective outcome of the project lies in improved water supply to the whole of the region, poverty alleviation, and the general improvement in the life of low-income farmers from Ebenhaeser.  With the regions' critical water shortages, the increase in infrastructure capacity for water savings provides up to an additional 3 000 000 cubic metres per year.  After one year of full operation the total turnover of water through the dam and pump station was 1 400 000 cubic metres, ten times the capacity of the original system.

Poverty Impact

Although the bulk of expenditures were used for specialised materials and bulk earthworks, the labour component resulted in the employment of local people over the four-year period totaling 11 400 working man-days.  All the locals involved in the project received valuable training and job experience, making them more marketable for future job opportunities.  Local participants received training as plasterers, and some learnt how to operate plant and earth moving machinery.

Sustainability

This was a one-off project with a total cost of R6 145 000. The Lower Olifants River Water User Association has taken ownership and responsibility of the day to day management and maintenance of the dam and the variable speed drive pump system. The Matzikama Municipality manages and maintains the municipal water supply pumps and rising mains.

Replication

The participatory model used by the project team ensures that it can be replicated in other settings.

Partnerships

• National Department of Agriculture 
• Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
• Provincial Department of Agriculture, Western Cape
• Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning 
• West Coast District Municipality
• Matzikama Municipality
• Ebenhaeser Municipality
• Papendorp Municipality
• Strandfontein Municipality
• Doornbaai Municipality
• Ebenhaeser Water Committee
• Ebenhaeser Transformation Committee
• 153 Ebenhaeser Farmers
• Van Breda and Associates
• ESKOM
• Ebenhaeser Water Committee
• Ebenhaeser Transformation Committee
• Surplus Peoples Project
• Western Cape Nature Conservation Board
• D & D Pumps; Aquatan Lining Systems
• Lower Olifants River Water User Association
• Aquatan Lining Systems