Vaalharts Storage Weir
Encyclopedia
Vaalharts Storage Weir is dam in South Africa
. It was established in 1936.
Vaalhartz Weir (alternative spelling) is located on the Vaal River
approximately 100 km downstream of Bloemhof Dam
and 13 km upstream of Warrenton
.
The main purpose of the dam is to divert water from the Vaal River (released from Bloemhof Dam) to the Vaalhartz Government Water Scheme as well as the Barkly Government Water Scheme. Water is also used for numerous small towns including Vryburg, Hartswater
, Jan Kempdorp
, Warrenton
, Winsorton, Kipdam, Barkly West and Delportshoop.
The main construction of the weir was completed in 1938 and was part of the government initiatives to alleviate unemployment following the depression of the 1930s.
In 1967, the weir was raised by 1.2m to its current height of 11m. It is a concrete barrage-type structure, 765m wide with numerous sluices. The sluices are of two types; some for the normal river releases and some for flood management purposes. The dam is designed to handle floods of up to 14200 m3/s.
After the raising of the dam in 1967 , it has a storage capacity of 45 million m3. It diverts water into a concrete lined canal on the right flank with a capacity of 40 m3/s. This canal supplies water to approximately 37000 ha of irrigation, most of which is located in the Vaalhartz and Barkly Government Water Schemes.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It was established in 1936.
Vaalhartz Weir (alternative spelling) is located on the Vaal River
Vaal River
The Vaal River is the largest tributary of the Orange River in South Africa. The river has its source in the Drakensberg mountains in Mpumalanga, east of Johannesburg and about 30 km north of Ermelo and only about 240 km from the Indian Ocean. It then flows westwards to its conjunction...
approximately 100 km downstream of Bloemhof Dam
Bloemhof Dam
Bloemhof Dam, was originally known as the Oppermansdrif Dam when under construction during the late 60's. Situated in the Vaal River, on the border between the North West, and Free State, provinces of South Africa. The dam wall is very long with a total length of 4 270m. The reservoir is very...
and 13 km upstream of Warrenton
Warrenton
-United States:*Warrenton, Georgia*Warrenton, Indiana *Warrenton, Missouri*Warrenton, North Carolina*Warrenton, Oregon*Warrenton, Texas*Warrenton, Virginia...
.
The main purpose of the dam is to divert water from the Vaal River (released from Bloemhof Dam) to the Vaalhartz Government Water Scheme as well as the Barkly Government Water Scheme. Water is also used for numerous small towns including Vryburg, Hartswater
Hartswater
Hartswater is an agricultural town serving the northern section of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The town was laid out in 1948...
, Jan Kempdorp
Jan Kempdorp
Jan Kempdorp is an agricultural town situated in the centre of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.Originally, the border between the Cape and Transvaal provinces ran through the town, making it the only town in South Africa that was in two provinces.During...
, Warrenton
Warrenton
-United States:*Warrenton, Georgia*Warrenton, Indiana *Warrenton, Missouri*Warrenton, North Carolina*Warrenton, Oregon*Warrenton, Texas*Warrenton, Virginia...
, Winsorton, Kipdam, Barkly West and Delportshoop.
The main construction of the weir was completed in 1938 and was part of the government initiatives to alleviate unemployment following the depression of the 1930s.
In 1967, the weir was raised by 1.2m to its current height of 11m. It is a concrete barrage-type structure, 765m wide with numerous sluices. The sluices are of two types; some for the normal river releases and some for flood management purposes. The dam is designed to handle floods of up to 14200 m3/s.
After the raising of the dam in 1967 , it has a storage capacity of 45 million m3. It diverts water into a concrete lined canal on the right flank with a capacity of 40 m3/s. This canal supplies water to approximately 37000 ha of irrigation, most of which is located in the Vaalhartz and Barkly Government Water Schemes.