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Phase 2
The Phase 2 Feasibility Study commenced in 2000 with a technical study and parallel EIA process. This study recommended that the MMTS-2 be developed in two stages in order to both delay capital expenditure and to minimise a severe impact on the Mgeni System water tariff.
The recommendation was that as a first stage only Spring Grove Dam (MMTS-2A) should be constructed upstream of the existing Mearns Weir and about 2 km south west form Rosetta village, in the KZN/Natal Midlands.
During this stage water will be released from Spring Grove Dam down the Mooi River into the impoundment of the Mearns Weir (MMTS-1) from where it will be abstracted and transferred, using the spare capacity of the existing transfer infrastructure, into the Mgeni River catchment to augment the supplies of Midmar Dam.
As a second stage (MMTS-2B), it was recommended that a new pumping station be constructed at the Spring Grove Dam from where the bulk transfer from the Mooi to the Mgeni River would take place.
The MMTS-2B would include the construction of a new transfer pipeline (14km long) from the Spring Grove Dam to the existing discharge point on the Mpofana River. This pipeline would follow a short route to the existing Mearns pipeline (3km), and thereafter a duplicate line would run parallel to the existing line and within the existing 25m wide servitude of aqueduct, to the discharge point in the Mpofana River (11km downstream).
From the discharge point on the Mpofana River, the water will flow into the Lions River and finally into the Mgeni River just upstream of the Midmar Dam where the transferred water will finally be stored.
Once constructed, the Spring Grove Dam and new transfer infrastructure would increase the yield of the Mgeni System from the current 334 million m3/annum by 60 million m3/annum to 394 million m3/annum.
The growth in water use within the Mgeni System has been so extensive over the last number of years and, even with water conservation and the demand management in place, the system is already severely stressed. The situation has deteriorated such that it is now necessary to construct both phases (2A and 2B) simultaneously and further argumentation is already required even after the MMTS-2 has been constructed.
Currently, there is no other project that can replace the MMTS-2 to meet the current Mgeni System demands. Hence, no viable alternative is available. |
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