Molteno Dam: Difference between revisions
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| locale = [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]] |
| locale = [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]] |
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| maint = City of Cape Town Waterworks |
| maint = City of Cape Town Waterworks |
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| length = |
| length = 285 m |
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| height = |
| height = 21 m |
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| type = earth-fill |
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| hydraulic_head = |
| hydraulic_head = |
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| width = 100 m |
| width = 100 m |
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| closed = |
| closed = |
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| cost = |
| cost = |
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| reservoir_capacity = |
| reservoir_capacity = 3 000 000 m<sup>3</sup> |
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| reservoir_catchment = |
| reservoir_catchment = |
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| reservoir_surface = |
| reservoir_surface = 36 ha |
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| turbines = |
| turbines = |
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| installed_capacity = |
| installed_capacity = |
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| website = |
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'''Molteno Dam''' is a small but historic dam on the lower slopes of [[Table Mountain]] in [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]]. Still in service, it was established in 1877 and is now located in the suburb of [[Oranjezicht]], [[Cape Town]]. |
'''Molteno Dam''' is a small but historic dam on the lower slopes of [[Table Mountain]] in [[Western Cape]], [[South Africa]]. Still in service, it was established in 1877 and is now located in the suburb of [[Oranjezicht]], [[Cape Town]]. The dam mainly serves for domestic supply and municipal use and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3)<ref>{{cite web|title=_sustinvent+|url=http://kt75-mirror.blogspot.ch/p/kt75-interactive.html|publisher=_kt75 {{!}} mirror}}</ref>. |
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In earlier days, the infant settlement of [[Cape Town]] had been supplied with water from [[Table Mountain]] by way of canals or ''"grachts"'' (such as Buitengracht, Kaizergracht and Heerengracht - now major streets). When these canals had to be covered due to public health concerns, the elders of the city agreed on the need to build a dam up on the Table Mountain slope above the growing city, to store water from the mountain's springs. This water would otherwise have flowed directly into the sea - a shameful waste in the eyes of the city's administrators. Its actual construction was part of a huge expansion of infrastructure, instituted by the government of Prime Minister [[John Charles Molteno|John Molteno]] (after whom it is named), who appointed the Cape's first water engineer Mr John Gamble, as well as the mayor [[David Pieter de Villiers Graaff|David Graaff]] (after whom the Graaff Electric Lighting Works is named). |
In earlier days, the infant settlement of [[Cape Town]] had been supplied with water from [[Table Mountain]] by way of canals or ''"grachts"'' (such as Buitengracht, Kaizergracht and Heerengracht - now major streets). When these canals had to be covered due to public health concerns, the elders of the city agreed on the need to build a dam up on the Table Mountain slope above the growing city, to store water from the mountain's springs. This water would otherwise have flowed directly into the sea - a shameful waste in the eyes of the city's administrators. Its actual construction was part of a huge expansion of infrastructure, instituted by the government of Prime Minister [[John Charles Molteno|John Molteno]] (after whom it is named), who appointed the Cape's first water engineer Mr John Gamble, as well as the mayor [[David Pieter de Villiers Graaff|David Graaff]] (after whom the Graaff Electric Lighting Works is named). |
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Revision as of 13:13, 25 March 2013
| The Molteno Dam | |
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Molteno Dam is a small but historic dam on the lower slopes of Table Mountain in Western Cape, South Africa. Still in service, it was established in 1877 and is now located in the suburb of Oranjezicht, Cape Town. The dam mainly serves for domestic supply and municipal use and its hazard potential has been ranked high (3)[1].
In earlier days, the infant settlement of Cape Town had been supplied with water from Table Mountain by way of canals or "grachts" (such as Buitengracht, Kaizergracht and Heerengracht - now major streets). When these canals had to be covered due to public health concerns, the elders of the city agreed on the need to build a dam up on the Table Mountain slope above the growing city, to store water from the mountain's springs. This water would otherwise have flowed directly into the sea - a shameful waste in the eyes of the city's administrators. Its actual construction was part of a huge expansion of infrastructure, instituted by the government of Prime Minister John Molteno (after whom it is named), who appointed the Cape's first water engineer Mr John Gamble, as well as the mayor David Graaff (after whom the Graaff Electric Lighting Works is named). The dam was intended to hold over 50,000,000 gallons of water, in sandy porous clay which presented an engineering challenge from the outset. The solution, only implemented years later, involved a mixture of excavation and masonry-supported embankments.[2]
The reservoir provided sufficient storage capacity for the young city for decades to come, until massive urbanisation in the 20th century meant drawing on the much larger Western Cape Water Supply System. The Graaff Electric Lighting Works, the first powerplant in South Africa, is also located next to the reservoir.
Several incidents have punctuated the dam's history. With the invention of the hot air balloon, renowned balloonist Isidore Michaels made an ascent from the nearby public gardens, in spite of the prevailing winds. To the horror of spectators, his balloon swept towards the mountain and landed in the middle of the dam, entangling and drowning the balloonist. A structural disaster occurred in the 1880s. The reservoir was overfilled and accidentally breached, causing a wave of water to rush down into the city. The deluge destroyed houses, uprooted trees and swept away belongings. Following its repair however, the dam has served Cape Town faithfully and still supplies the city centre today. [3]
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A 19th Century drawing of the construction of the dam. -
A view of the Cape Town city centre from Lions Head. Molteno Dam is visible in the centre right of the picture. Due to the city's expansion up the mountain slope, the dam is now completely surrounded by suburbs. -
Oranjezicht From the summit of Table Mountain, with Molteno Dam in the foreground -
The Molteno Dam from Belvedere Avenue, Oranjezicht
See also
References
- ^ "_sustinvent+". _kt75 | mirror.
- ^ Brooke Simons, Phillida (2000). Ice Cold in Africa: The History of Imperial Cold Storage & Supply Company Limited. Cape Town: Fernwood Press. p. 27. ISBN 1-874950-50-4.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); More than one of|pages=and|page=specified (help) - ^ [1]
External links
Find out more about the Molteno Reservoir, here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.446592291552.236930.201229746552&type=1 and the old hydro-electric station alongside it - which provided Cape Town with street lights, whilst London still operated gas lamps:
There is more on Cape Town's water infrastructure, which lies embedded - some of which is already listed and marked on RECLAIM CAMISSA's citizen activated Google Map, here: http://maps.google.co.za/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hq&hnear=Cape+Town%2C+Western+Cape&msa=0&msid=108234005395617594082.00048ab7db7ea23a58356&ll=-33.94336%2C18.418407&spn=0.037026%2C0.077162&t=h&z=14