To raise Luphohlo wall by 5m, Hawane wall by 4m
Mbabane – The government of Eswatini, through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy is proposing to raise the Hawane and Luphohlo Dams by 4m and 5m in that order.
This undertaking is aimed at augmenting water supply to the city of Mbabane as well as Ezulwini and Ngwenya towns. According to Eswatini Environmental Assessment Report by the Eswatini Environmental Authority (EEA), the proposed project is part of the Mbabane-Manzini corridor multipurpose dam (Nondvo Dam) project. Government has projected to spend around E35 million in the expansion Hawane Dam alone.
“The project is part of government’s initiative aimed at improving water security within the Mbabane/Manzini corridor. The water going to Mbabane is transported for 20km through a pipeline from the dam to the Woodlands treatment plant where water is treated and delivered to the capital city. A pipeline from Mbabane then transmits the water to Ezulwini,” reads the report in part.
Meanwhile, facing the famous Kabhoshwa Mountain is the firm, serene, and historic dam that has stood the test of time, feeding the whole of Mbabane. This is the Hawane Dam, which after exactly 40 years of construction, still remains one of the strongest dams in the country. Despite facing the scenic mountain which exposes the whole of Mbabane when at the peak- the Hawane Dam has attracted many environmental enthusiasts and tourists- and this might be because of its mix of engineering and nature.
What makes this dam unique is that it also falls within a nature reserve, monitored and safeguarded by the Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC).
Not only was the dam built carefully and with timeless engineering techniques- but nature was also given paramount consideration during the architecture.
Below the dam is not just concrete, but a rock- giving the dam a waterfall look- not just a just engineered structure.
Hawane Dam was constructed in 1984 to supply the capital city of Eswatini, Mbabane, with fresh water. The surface area covered by water is 69 hectares, and the dam inundated montane grassland and swamps. Before inundation, this was the only site in the country for Wattled Cranes.
Currently, this is the only protected site for the endemic and highly endangered plant Kniphofia umbrina. The underlying geological formation of the site is granite. The soils fall into two types: mottled hydromorphic soils (typically acidic) and deep yellow loam soils.
Hawane Dam is on the upper reaches of the Black Umbuluzi, close to its source (also within Malolotja Nature Reserve). Due to the mountainous nature of the region, the reservoir is steep-sided and hence shallow waters are typically restricted to where streams run into it. Water levels do fluctuate, mostly related to natural rainfall increasing in late summer and decreasing through winter.
The climate is typical for the ‘Highveld’ of Eswatini with warm wet summers and cold dry winters. The main source of water for the reservoir is the Black Mbuluzi River, although several non-perennial streams also flow into it. The significance of this catchment is that it is the only catchment of a major river arising entirely within Eswatini (and not flowing in from South Africa to the west).
When questioned about Hawane Dam’s longevity, a reputable Hydrologist, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the dam has been one of the easiest to maintain in the country, stating that it has supplied the people of Mbabane for decades- for domestic use.
“In my assessment, the greatest test that the Hawane Dam has felt was in 2015 and 2016, during the peak of the El Nino. The drought hit the dam to almost empty- hence the drastic water rationing in Mbabane,” narrated the Hydrologist.
The Hydrologist further it was during the trying times of lack of water in Mbabane that a decision to extend the dam was made.
According to a report by Ramsar amsar Information Sheet, Hawane Dam constitutes mostly of the human-made reservoir which covers around 90 per cent of the area, with the swamp (23.2 hectares) accounting for most of the remainder of the wetland area.
The shoreline is typically composed of a narrow belt of sand which varies with water level, beyond which lies the montane grassland ecosystem indigenous to this area. The main swamp/marsh (called the Hawane swamp) is situated upstream of the reservoir where the Black Mbuluzi enters the system.
“This swamp is extensive by Swaziland standards but only covers a few hectares. It is inundated in summer months but tends to dry out towards the end of winter or early spring before the rains have begun, although small pockets of marshy habitat persist through most years.
The reservoir is host to a variety of waterbirds, whereas the swamp supports a small, but critical population of the endemic and Critically Endangered plant Kniphofia umbrina,” reads the report.
Despite providing fresh water to the capital city, Mbabane, Hawane Dam also acts as a flood control as well as a sediment trap.
Enhencing existing infrastructure through:
- Raising the wall of Hawane Dam by 4m
- Raising the wall of Luphohlo Dam by 5m
