Definition
Wemmershoek Dam is a concrete gravity dam located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It impounds the Wemmershoek River and forms part of the Western Cape Water Supply System, providing drinking water to the Cape Town metropolitan area and surrounding communities.
Overview
- Location: The dam is situated in the Wemmershoek Valley, approximately 30 km east of the town of Stellenbosch, within the Berg River catchment area.
- Purpose: Primary functions include municipal water supply, with secondary uses for recreation and limited irrigation.
- Construction history: Construction began in the early 1950s and the dam was commissioned for service in 1953. The structure has undergone subsequent upgrades, including a wall‑raising program completed in the early 2000s to increase storage capacity.
- Management: The dam is owned and operated by the Western Cape Department of Water and Forestry (now the Department of Water and Sanitation).
Etymology / Origin
The name “Wemmershoek” is derived from the Wemmershoek River, which itself is named after an early European settler or farmstead known locally as “Wemmer’s hoek” (Afrikaans for “Wemmer’s corner”). Precise historical documentation of the individual or family is limited; the nomenclature reflects common colonial naming practices in the region.
Characteristics
- Dam type: Concrete gravity dam.
- Height: Approximately 30 m (source variations exist; precise measurement is not universally agreed upon).
- Length (crest): Roughly 310 m.
- Reservoir capacity: Reported values range from 28 000 ML to 31 000 ML (megaliters); accurate, up‑to‑date figures are not consistently confirmed across publicly available sources.
- Catchment area: About 78 km² of the Berg River basin.
- Surface area: Approximately 2.5 km² when at full supply level.
- Spillway: Controlled overflow spillway designed to pass the design flood safely.
Related Topics
- Western Cape Water Supply System – the integrated network of dams, reservoirs, and pipelines serving Cape Town and the surrounding region.
- Theewaterskloof Dam – the largest dam in the Western Cape, also part of the same water supply system.
- Steenbras Dam – another key infrastructure component of the Cape Town water network.
- Berg River – the major river system into which the Wemmershoek River drains.
- Water security in South Africa – broader context of water resource management and challenges in the country.
Note: While the above information reflects widely reported data from governmental and academic sources, some technical specifications (e.g., exact height, capacity, and surface area) show minor variations among publications. Accurate, up‑to‑date figures are subject to periodic revision by the Department of Water and Sanitation.