Gaborone Dam
{{Short description|Dam in South-East District}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox dam
| name = Gaborone Dam
| name_official =
| image = Gaborone Dam 2.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Gaborone Dam at sunset
| image_alt =
| location_map = Botswana
| location_map_size =
| location_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|-24.700161|25.926381|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = Botswana
| location = South-East District
| purpose = Urban water supply
| status =
| construction_began = 1963
| opening = 1964
| demolished =
| cost =
| owner =
| dam_type = Embankment, earth-fill
| dam_height = {{convert|25|m}}
| dam_height_thalweg =
| dam_height_foundation=
| dam_length = {{convert|3.6|km}}
| dam_width_crest =
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| res_name =
| res_capacity_total = {{convert|141100000|m3}}
| res_capacity_active =
| res_capacity_inactive=
| res_catchment =
| res_surface = {{convert|15|km2}}.{{sfn|Water Utilities Corporation|2010}}
| res_elevation =
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}}
The Gaborone Dam is a dam on the Notwane River in Botswana with a capacity of {{convert|141100000|m3}}.{{sfn|Central Statistics Office|2009|p=3}} The dam is operated by the Water Utilities Corporation, and supplies water to the capital city of Gaborone.{{sfn|Corporate Profile - WUC}}
Location
The Gaborone Dam is located south of Gaborone along the Gaborone-Lobatse road, and provides water for both Gaborone and Lobatse.{{sfn|Central Statistics Office|2009}} The effective catchment area covers about {{convert|225|km2}}, drained by the Notwane river and the lesser Taung, Metsemaswaane and Nywane rivers.{{sfn|Yadava|2003|p=125}} Between 1971 and 2000, average annual rainfall was between {{convert|450|mm}} and {{convert|550|mm}}. Temperatures range from {{convert|10|°C}} in winter to {{convert|37|°C}} in summer. Average potential evapotranspiration is about {{convert|1400|mm}} annually.{{sfn|Yadava|2003|p=126}}{{efn|In a dry environment where annual precipitation is lower than potential evapotranspiration, the soil and even the river beds will often be dry except in the rainy season.}}
Description
The dam construction began in 1963, capturing water from the Notwane River, at a time when the new capital city of Gaborone was in the planning stages.{{sfn|Gaborone in Details...}} The original dam was completed in 1964.{{sfn|Knight|1990|p=407-408}} The dam is an earthcore fill structure.{{sfn|Water Utilities Corporation|2010}} During the 1965-66 rainy season the reservoir filled and overflowed.{{sfn|Gaborone in Details...}}
Between 1983 and 1985 the dam was raised by {{convert|7|m}} to increase capacity, reaching a maximum height of {{convert|25|m}} and a length of {{convert|3.6|km}}.
Raising the dam had to be done extremely carefully to ensure that the impervious upstream zone of the dam remained intact and was extended up the raised bank.{{sfn|Knight|1990|p=407-408}} Most of the reservoir is less than {{convert|10|ft}} deep.{{sfn|Workman|2009|p=129}} The surface area of the reservoir when full is {{convert|15|km2}}.{{sfn|Water Utilities Corporation|2010}}
Until completion of the Dikgatlhong Dam in 2011, the Gaborone dam was the largest in Botswana.{{sfn|Central Statistics Office|2009}}
Issues
After the dam was opened and filled, the average water levels began to drop. In the part, this was due to a cyclical change in rainfall, reducing the amount of water fed into the reservoir and increasing the impact of evaporation in the hot, dry climate. In part it was due to growth of the city and growing per-capita demand for water as the population became more affluent, using water for purposes such as filling swimming pools and washing cars. By the end of 2002 the reservoir was 79% full, and by the start of 2004 it was 54% full.{{sfn|Workman|2009|p=130}} By the end of 2004 the reservoir was just 27% full and the government was forced to impose harsh restrictions on water use.{{sfn|Workman|2009|p=139}} By September 2005 the reservoir was down to 17% full, or {{convert|34|L}} per citizen of Gaborone.{{sfn|Workman|2009|p=139}}
In the drought-prone country, the water supply is a constant concern. A neon signboard in the city informs residents how full the reservoir is.{{sfn|Gaborone in Details...}} The reservoir and the green buffer zone that surrounds it are the largest and most fragile ecosystem in the Gaborone area.{{sfn|Keiner|Zegras|Schmid|Salmerón|2004|p=99}} A book published in 2004 noted that storm water drainage is poor in Gaborone, causing recurring street floods, and that pit latrines and overflowing sewage ponds endanger the water in the reservoir.{{sfn|Keiner|Zegras|Schmid|Salmerón|2004|p=92}}
Reservoir use
The reservoir is starting to be marketed as a recreational area. The northern end of the reservoir is planned to become an entertainment venue called The Waterfront.{{sfn|All about Gaborone}}
There is a yacht club, called Gaborone Yacht Club, on the northern side of the lake.{{sfn|Gaborone Yacht Club}}
The southern end houses the Kalahari Fishing Club and a new public facility called City Scapes. City Scapes contains parks, playgrounds, and boating facilities.{{sfn|All about Gaborone}}
The dam is popular with birdwatchers, windsurfers, and anglers.{{sfn|HardyFirestone|2007|p=75–88}}
However, there is no swimming due to crocodiles and parasitic bilharzias, which can transmit the serious disease schistosomiasis.{{sfn|African cities- Gaborone Culture}}
Gallery
File:Gaborone Dam 1.jpg
File:Gaborone, Botswana.jpg|View from space
File:GaberoneAerial.jpg|Gaborone from the air, dam in the distance
References
Notes
{{Notelist}}
Citations
{{Reflist |colwidth=20em}}
Sources
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|African cities- Gaborone Culture}} |title=African cities- Gaborone Culture |url=http://gaborone.info/php/gabculture.php?name=Gaborone%20Culture |work=Gaborone.info |publisher=AfricanCities.net |access-date=5 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721202404/http://gaborone.info/php/gabculture.php?name=Gaborone%20Culture |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}
- {{cite web
|ref = {{harvid|All about Gaborone}}
|publisher = Gabscity.com
|location = Gaborone, Botswana
|title = All about Gaborone
|url = http://www.gabscity.com/city/index.php
|access-date = 4 August 2009
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090809032116/http://www.gabscity.com/city/index.php
|archive-date = 9 August 2009
}}
- {{cite web
|ref={{harvid|Central Statistics Office|2009}}
|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Enviro/botswanawater_statisticsreport.pdf
|title=Botswana water statistics
|publisher=Central Statistics Office
|location=Gaborone, Botswana
|date=October 2009
|access-date=7 July 2010
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5r28HPAkm?url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Enviro/botswanawater_statisticsreport.pdf
|archive-date=7 July 2010
}}
- {{cite web
|ref = {{harvid|Gaborone in Details...}}
|url = http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/gaboroneDetails.php
|title = Gaborone in Details...
|work = Botswana Tourism
|access-date = 2012-09-18
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120501182730/http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/gaboroneDetails.php
|archive-date = 2012-05-01
}}
- {{cite web
|ref={{harvid|Gaborone Yacht Club}}
|url=http://www.gyc.org.bw/
|title=HOME / ABOUT US
|website=Gaborone Yacht Club
|access-date=2012-09-18
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316144900/https://www.gyc.org.bw/
|archive-date=2012-03-16
}}
- {{cite web |ref={{harvid|Corporate Profile - WUC}} |url=http://www.wuc.bw/wuc-content.php?cid=139
|title=Corporate Profile |publisher=WUC
|access-date=2012-09-20}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Hardy |first1=Paula|last2=Firestone |first2=Matthew D. |title=Botswana & Namibia
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSAs1_B-93YC&pg=PA74 |access-date=4 August 2009
|year=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74104-760-8 |chapter=Gaborone
|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSAs1_B-93YC&pg=PA74}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Keiner|first1=Marco|last2=Zegras|first2=Christopher|last3=Schmid|first3=Willy A.|first4=Diego|last4=Salmerón
|title=From Understanding to Action: Sustainable Urban Development in Medium-Sized Cities in Africa and Latin America
|url=https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-978-1-4020-2921-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/springer_10.1007-978-1-4020-2921-9/page/n113 99]
|access-date=2012-09-18
|date=2004-12-20|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-2879-3}}
- {{cite book
|last=Knight
|title=Geotechnical Instrumentation in Practice: Purpose, Performance and Interpretation : Proceedings of the Conference Geotechnical Instrumentation in Civil Engineering Projects
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rErL_dyWbBIC&pg=PA407|access-date=2012-09-18
|date=1990-06-01|publisher=Thomas Telford|isbn=978-0-7277-1515-9|page=407}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.wuc.bw/wuc-content.php?cid=107
|title=Dam Parameters
|author=Water Utilities Corporation |year=2010
|access-date=2012-09-19}}
- {{cite book
|last=Workman|first=James G.|title=Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXId5ZC89EAC&pg=PA129|access-date=2012-09-18
|date=2009-08-04|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA|isbn=978-0-8027-1558-6|page=129}}
- {{cite book
|last=Yadava|first=Ram Narayan|title=Watershed Hydrology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=73DdflwDU0oC&pg=PA125|access-date=2012-09-18
|year=2003|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=978-81-7764-547-7|page=125}}
{{Refend}}
{{Dams and reservoirs in Botswana}}
{{Authority control}}