The multi-award-winning Spring Grove Dam is not only a considerable technical achievement but also testament to how important the social and environmental side of project implementation is.

While the success of the construction of Spring Grove Dam has been celebrated, and while it is part of Phase 2 of the Mooi Mgeni Transfer Scheme, there were some major non-engineering factors that made this project unique.

The scheme  will augment water supplies by 60 million m³ per year to about five million domestic and industrial users in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Throughout the design and construction phases, it was up to the project teams to work closely with the client, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), to ensure that all efforts were made to minimise the impacts on the social and natural environment.

This article takes a closer look at land acquisition, environmental considerations and the role of heritage in the Spring Grove Dam project.

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