Berg Water Project (BWP)

BWP is designed to capture the winter rainfall and store it for supply to the City of Cape Town during the dry summer months. BWP is the first bulk water resource development project that is directly linked to water demand management. BWP will increase the yield of the Western Cape Water System (WCWS) by 81 million m³ or 18% to 523 million m³ a year by 2007.The existing components of the WCWS, including the addition of the Berg River Dam, are depicted. The project is on schedule to impound the Berg River in June 2007 and begin with the delivery of water to Cape Town by the end of 2007.

Background

The Berg Water Project (BWP) is the culmination of a 14-year process by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) to identify appropriate measures to address the pending water shortage in the Western Cape. The process started with the Western Cape systems analysis in 1989, to determine the future needs and water resources available in the region, and was subjected to rigorous public participation process and debate, after which a Record of Decision was issued in 1999 by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. In April 2002, the Cabinet approved the implementation of BWP on condition that the City of Cape Town (CCT) reduces the demand for water by 20% by the year 2020. In May 2002, the Minister directed TCTA in terms of section 103(2) of the National Water Act, 1998, to fund and implement BWP as the agent for DWAF.

Partnerships

BWP is a public-public partnership between DWAF, City of Cape Town and TCTA sets out the institutional arrangements between DWAF and the main user, CCT (agreement 1) and DWAF and TCTA (agreement 2). These agreements were signed in April 2003. Agreement 1 sets out the terms and conditions of supply from DWAF to CCT as well as the terms and conditions of payment by CCT of all raw water delivered.

Agreement 2 sets out the terms and conditions relating to the implementation of the project and the payment by DWAF to TCTA for bulk raw water delivered. TCTA's credit exposure is therefore to DWAF and not to the users. To support a consultative approach to project implementation, TCTA has developed institutional and governance structures which include stakeholder participation. These structures are depicted in.

Funding model

The long-term funding for the Berg Water Project (BWP) is funded through Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) (R500 million), European Investment Bank (EIB) (R800 million) and ABSA (R300 million). The loan signed with the EIB is the single biggest loan signed between EIB and a South African entity to date.

Project Governance

TCTA's Board is ultimately responsible to the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry and to Cabinet for the implementation of BWP. The BWP Technical Committee accommodates the participation of TCTA's partners (CCT and DWAF) in implementing the project.

An independent engineering panel reviews all technical implementation aspects of the project and makes recommendations to TCTA.

Project profile

The Berg Water Project (BWP) comprises the Berg River Dam and Supplement Scheme.

Dam

The dam is located in the upper reaches of the Berg River near Franschhoek.

• Full supply level 250m above sea level
• Surface area 488ha
• Type: Concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD)
• Volume rockfill 3,5 million m³
• Gross storage capacity 130 million m³
• Net storage capacity 129,4 million m³
• Maximum dam height 62m (70m including foundation)
• Length of dam wall 929m
• Spillway Side channel
• Multi-level inlet tower 63m

Supplement scheme

Additional water will be abstracted from the Berg River, below the confluence with the Dwars River, at the Supplement Scheme which includes:

• Diversion weir across Berg River
• Balancing dam 4ha
• Pump station 4m3/second
• Pipelines 12km

Infrastructure

• Access road to the dam site 3,5km
• Construction housing 80 units (La Motte Village)

Engineering Design

Engineering contract

The consultancy services contract was awarded to Berg River Consultants (BRC) which comprises Goba, Knight Piesold and Ninham Shand. BRC is responsible for the design and construction supervision of all BWP construction contracts.

Dam contract

The R550 million contract for the construction of the dam was awarded to the Berg River Project Joint Venture (BRPJV). BRPJV consists of Grinaker-LTA, Group Five, WBHO and Western Cape Empowerment Contractors (WCEC).

Embankment

The Dam type, known as a concrete-faced rockfill dam (CFRD), consists of an embankment made up of rock mined from the dam basin, with an impermeable concrete face (300mm thick) on the upstream side. The downstream face is being re-vegetated with fynbos to ensure that it blends with and does not contrast with the surrounding landscape.

Intake tower

Water from the Berg River Dam will be extracted through the 63m high intake tower. The water extracted from the dam will be directed either to Cape Town via the Dasbos pump station or into the Berg River.

Water Releases

On 24 November 2005, a major milestone was achieved when the Berg River was diverted to flow through the diversion conduit, a 5,5m diameter tunnel through the dam wall. After completion of the project the diversion conduit will be used to undertake environmental releases.

Up to 200m³ per second of water will be released from the dam into the river to simulate natural floods during periods of high rainfall. Smaller releases, known as freshets, will be made to maintain the natural flow patterns of the river.

Spillway

The spillway is a mechanism through which water will spill if the dam reaches its full capacity. The spillway is located on the left bank of the dam.

Dasbos Pump Station and Adit

The pump station located below the dam wall will pump water from the Berg River Dam to Cape Town via the Riviersonderend tunnel system.

Supplement Scheme

The Supplement Scheme, situated 10km downstream from the Berg River Dam is designed to capture additional rain water that enters the Berg River below the dam via the Dwars, Wemmershoek and Franschhoek Rivers. This additional water supplements the yield of the BWP from 56 to 81 million m3 per annum.

Supplement Scheme Contracts

The supplement scheme is sub-divided into three different contract packages.

Construction of Civil Works

The R219-million contract was awarded to the construction division of the Department of Water affairs (DWAF) in July 2005. It entails construction of the weir and sedimentation traps in the river, balancing dam, Drakenstein and Dasbos pump stations and the pipe connection to the Riversonderend tunnel system at the Dasbos Adit.

Construction of Electrical and Mechanical Works

The R59-million contract was awarded to Sulzer Pumps (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd in October 2005. The scope of services includes supply, installation and commission of pumps and other mechanical and electrical items to both the Dasbos and Drakenstein Pump stations.

Construction of Pipelines

This contract entails the supply and construction of the 9.5km pipeline linking the Supplement Scheme to the Berg River dam as well as the 2.5km pipeline from the Dasbos Pump Station to the Dasbos Adit. The contract was awarded to Cycad Pipelines in October 2005. The Contract price is R 105-million.

La Motte Village

The La Motte Village, worth some R30 million, provides 80 houses for contractors involved in the project.

Environmental Management

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

At the heart of the BWP compliance strategy is the EMP as approved by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT). This plan provides the framework and scope for the socioeconomic strategies, environmental design guidelines, contractual specifications, as well as programmes for monitoring impacts on the overall Berg River system. The implementation of the EMP has demonstrated benefits beyond merely meeting legal requirements. It has contributed to the environmental awareness of the workforce and the contractors. The key to the success of the EMP has been the commitment of TCTA's Board and Management to the process.

Environmental Control Officer (ECO)

In order to meet the conditions outlined in the EMP, TCTA appointed an independent ECO to monitor and audit compliance by TCTA and all contractors. The ECO has been monitoring activities on site and in local communities since June 2004. Achievements against the EMP are documented in monthly reports and an audit of TCTA and all its contractors conducted on a 6-monthly basis. Two audits (viz. March 2005 and November 2005) have been completed and reports submitted during the period under review. Since the start of the construction there has been significant improvement with compliance which increased from 82% in the first audit to 96% in the second audit. The independent ECO has stated that there are no observable significant negative impacts associated with the project.

Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC)

TCTA established the BWP EMC to encourage participative monitoring of the:

• conditions specified in the Record of Decision (RoD) for project approval
• performance and implementation of the EMP.

Project sustainability

Franschhoek First Policy

The Franschhoek First Policy (FFP) was developed and subsequently endorsed by the BWP Environmental Monitoring Committee (EMC) to achieve the following objectives:

• To maximize employment opportunities for the local communities
• To minimize the utilization of imported labour within the ambit of applicable legislation
• To maximize contracting, training and development opportunities for local businesses, HDI-owned businesses and SMMEs so as to ensure maximum procurement opportunities
• To give effect to the Franschhoek First Policy, each contract awarded on the BWP stipulates employment, training and procurement targets. The performance of the contractor against the targets is monitored on a monthly basis.

Sustainable Utilisation Plan

Requirements for the sustainable use of the land surrounding the Berg River Dam and the water body are being developed. The public consultation process for the development of a Sustainable Utilization Plan (SUP) began formally with two public meetings held in February 2005. Baseline information on the possible constraints and opportunities against which the proposed development activities will be evaluated was researched and presented in the Opportunities and Constraints report published in December 2005. The findings contained in the report were presented to local stakeholder groups and communities through a series of meetings held in March 2006.