Managing South Africa’s limited and highly variable water supply in a sustainable and efficient manner is an ongoing challenge. The Mgeni Water System in KwaZulu-Natal supplies water to approximately five million people, as well as the industrial regions and the economic hubs of the province.
The growth in water demand and intermittent droughts made it necessary to develop the Spring Grove Dam, which will provide much-needed water to the municipalities in the KwaZulu Natal Province via the transfer of water to Midmar Dam.
AECOM was engaged as the consulting engineer for the project and the geotechnical team was involved with a range of tasks including borrow pit and quarry investigations; geotechnical and water pipeline investigations; slope stability analysis and design; ground improvement and seismic refraction surveys.
The main components of the project include, a roller compacted concrete dam with an earth embankment, three gauging weirs, realignment of private access roads and an artificial fish barrier.