Berg River-Voelvlei Augmentation Scheme

Identified as a critical surface water development, Berg River-Voelvlei Augmentation Scheme (BRVAS) aims to address the growing water demands of the Western Cape Water Supply System. This system supplies water to Cape Town, surrounding urban centres, and irrigators across the Berg, Eerste, and Sonderend rivers. 

The Western Cape Water Supply Systems water deficit was highlighted during the severe 2015 Cape Town drought. The system’s inability to cope with the drought prompted the development of a Reconciliation Strategy, with BRVAS identified as the most effective short-term surface water solution to address the current water shortage.

The BRVAS project will provide a much-needed boost to Cape Town’s water supply by extracting 23 million cubic meters of water annually from the Berg River. To maximise efficiency, BRVAS leveraged existing infrastructure where possible. This included utilising Voëlvlei Dam, established water treatment works, Cape Town’s existing pipeline from the treatment plant, and facilities managed by the West Coast District Municipality. 

The BRVAS project will involve pumping water in winter months (April to September) from the Berg River to increase the yield of the Voëlvlei Dam by approximately 23 million cubic meters per annum. It will be a low-level weir and pump station located at the Lorelei site on the Berg River, and a 6.3 km long pipeline to deliver the water into the Voëlvlei Dam. The pipeline will be designed for reverse operation during summer so that releases can be made from the Voëlvlei Dam to the downstream users, including meeting the ecological water requirements of the estuary.

Outputs 

The project components include the following: 

• A low-level weir, abstraction works and 4 m3 /s raw water pump station on the Berg River;
• A rising main pipeline from the Berg River to Voëlvlei Dam; and
• A potential new summer release connection at the existing Swartland WTW to facilitate summer releases into the Berg River for environmental requirements thus eliminating the need to use the existing canal from which water losses occur. 

The pipeline will be capable of reverse operation during summers so that releases can be made from the Voëlvlei Dam to the downstream users and to meet the ecological water requirements of the estuary.