Rehabilitation to enhance the safety of South African dams

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), custodian of the water resources in South Africa, owns 320 dams nationally. DWS, as dam owner, is therefore subjected to the Dam Safety Regulations, which have been in force since 1987, and amended by Government Notice R139 on 24 February 2012. This paper gives an overview of the rehabilitation of dams owned by the DWS, owner of the majority of large dams in South Africa. The main reasons for the rehabilitation and the challenges encountered with the rehabilitation programme are discussed.