Emmarentia Dam is receiving a R25 million facelift that is expected to last 8 month’s according to the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA).

The dam which is located on the Westdene spruit is a tributary of the Juskei River and is a popular recreational venue for the residents of Joburg.

At 103 years, the dam’s ageing infrastructure, erosion, corrosion and several significant floods have necessitated the City’s investment in proactive maintenance of this landmark.

“While Emmarentia dam had significant improvements undertaken in 1988, a comprehensive investigation recently undertaken by the JRA confirmed that preventative maintenance and flood retention protection is required to safeguard the dam’s integrity and ensure the safety of residential properties downstream”, confirms JRA Acting Managing Director Mpho Kau.

“The investigation revealed some subsiding with the dam wall slope stability to be potentially at risk, and that urgent repairs are required to the return channel as a major flood could undermine the existing gabion and concrete walls causing significant structural damage, while continued erosion could expose the banks and possibly undermine existing municipal roads located in close proximity to the right hand side of the return channel”, explains Kau,

“In addition, the Olifants road located along the crest of the dam’s embankment has also been affected by possible leakages within storm water inlet structures requiring repairs and road reconstruction.”

The rehabilitation project, which started in April 2015, is being undertaken in accordance with the City of Johannesburg Stormwater By-Laws and Dam Safety Regulations considering the dam is classified as medium sized with a category III High Hazard Potential Rating.

The project scope includes improving the flood prevention facility system to protect properties located downstream of the dam from flooding.

This includes excavating and repairing the pipework and surrounding soil at the stormwater structures located along the dam, altering outlet structures, repairing the box culvert outlet, widening the control section and constructing a gabion wall on the eastern side of the outlet.