Critical Deadline: Dam Owners in South Africa Urged to Register Within 60 Days

In a significant move to bolster dam safety across South Africa, the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has issued an urgent directive for all unregistered dam owners to register their dams within the next 60 days. This directive, spearheaded by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina, is a key component of ensuring that dam facilities across the nation meet critical safety and regulatory standards.

The mandate comes off the back of a recent gazette notice which highlights the necessity for registration of existing dams identified as potentially hazardous, as outlined in the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) and the Dam Safety Regulations (R 139 of 24 February 2012). Regulations specifically cite the consequences of non-compliance which range from severe environmental damage to loss of life, underscoring the urgency and importance of this registration drive.

Wally Ramokopa, the Head of the Specialist Unit for Dam Safety Regulation at DWS, defined the criteria for dams that classify as a safety risk: those with a storage capacity exceeding 50,000 cubic meters and a vertical wall height over five meters. Owners of such dams must verify their registration status and, if unregistered, submit the necessary forms promptly. Application forms are accessible online on the DWS website or at departmental offices nationwide.

Furthermore, the procedure demands regular safety inspections every five years to be carried out by an Approved Professional Person (APP). During these inspections, extensive flood frequency analyses are performed to evaluate the dam's capability to manage various flood scenarios, which helps in preemptive disaster management planning.

Failure to follow through with these recommended inspections and updates can lead to significant consequences. Ramokopa emphasized, “To prevent the loss of life and safeguard the environment, we will not even blink twice to ensure that dam owners do what is required of them by law.”

To augment this initiative, DWS is rolling out a nationwide multimedia campaign aimed at raising awareness about the critical nature of dam registration and compliance. The campaign not only highlights the importance of maintaining safety standards but also aims to keep an updated and accurate database of all dams for better regulation and risk management.

This initiative underscores a collective effort to mitigate risks associated with dam infrastructures in South Africa, thereby protecting citizens, property, and the environment from potential catastrophes attributed to dam failures. Dam owners are hence called upon to adhere strictly to these regulations, ensuring compliance and cooperation with national safety mandates.