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Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam finds itself under the spotlight, following a recent statement by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).
On 12 January 2022, the DWS highlighted how dam levels in KwaZulu-Natal increased because of torrential downpours across the province. Additionally, DWS spokesperson Sputnik Ratau underlined that many had reached the 100% mark.
This included Mearns Dam, which was at 115,5%, Midmar Dam, which stood at 101,1%, and Craige Burn Dam, 101,3%.
Yet, with dams around the province filling up, Newcastle’s Ntshingwayo Dam only rose from 65.1% to 66.8%.
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With this fact coming to light, Newcastle residents grew concerned about the dam levels, with one source claiming that the dam’s sluice gates were broken, resulting in significant water loss.
Because the Ntshingwayo Dam is critical to the Newcastle community’s water supply, the Newcastillian – Online News immediately contacted the Newcastle Municipality to ascertain whether the serious allegations were true.
The Municipality’s Communication Unit responded, stating that the DWS was the dam’s custodian.
Thus, as the dam’s official guardian, the Newcastle Municipality stated that the Department of Water is responsible for its operation and maintenance.
Having said that, the municipality also stated that uThukela Water has no jurisdiction over the operation and maintenance of this dam.
Sputnik Ratau, the DWS’s national spokesperson, confirmed an issue at Ntshingwayo Dam, namely that one of the sluice gates is broken.
As Ntshingwayo (Chelmsford) Dam’s sluice gates are part of the national government’s infrastructure. “The Infrastructure Management team at the Department of Water and Sanitation is in the process of having it repaired.”
However, Ratau has not provided a timeline for when the anticipated repair work will be completed.
Regarding the low levels and allegations of water wasting due to a broken sluice gate, Ratau assures that the situation at the dam is not as dire as some might believe.
Putting residents’ minds at ease, he affirms, “The level at the dam this week is at 80.9%, which I cannot call low in any language. You need to be mindful that any dam level is not dependent on any other. The level of each one depends on the inflows into it, based on rains that would have fallen on its catchment/s thus impacting on the river/s that feed such a dam.”
With the matter addressed, what are your thoughts?
Share your views in the comment section below.
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Comments 5
It has been years that the sluce gate has not been working, they just do not care. This is not a new problem
This must be sorted out quickly. CHELMSFORD dam has lots of memories I have had there. Its truly a awe place to go to, to unwind and relax with a fishing rod in hand.
Just to remind Sputnik although the dam is 80,9% full, 19,1% was lost due to ignorance
and a lack of maintenance. In my book 19.1% of the Ntshingwayo dam capacity is
37,1686 million cubic meters water that was lost. This is water we could have had if we
had competent people taking responsibility,
Will it be possible for the DWS national spokesperson to give us a update on the progress
of repairs on the defective sluce gate ?
What is the progress of this project currently?