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Chapter 3: Engineered Water
Recommendations
of the World
Commission on
Dams form the
basis of many
decision-making
processes for dams
globally
THE WORLD COMMISSION ON DAMS FRAMEWORK
The WCD framework covers key areas for improved planning of dams,
including:
• The need to fully assess all available options for meeting water and
energy needs;
• Addressing outstanding social issues regarding existing dams before
building new ones;
• Addressing the importance of protecting and maintaining healthy river
systems when planning dams; and
• Gaining public acceptance for key decisions.
The WCD recommendations form the basis of many decision-making processes for
dams around the world and constitute international soft law (guidelines, policy
declarations or codes of conduct that set standards but are not directly enforceable).
They are also being adapted to national contexts around the world.
SIZE OF DAMS OWNED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION
1%
UNCLASSIFIED
32%
CLASSIFIED AS LARGE
43%
CLASSIFIED AS SMALL
24%
CLASSIFIED AS MEDIUM
1663
THE YEAR SOUTH
AFRICA’S OLDEST DAM
WAS BUILT
Dams from old to new
South Africa’s oldest hydraulic structure or masonry weir is the Waegenaars Dam
in Cape Town, built in 1663 to supply freshwater to ships in transit from Europe to
India.
The Van Wyksvlei Dam in the Northern Cape, built in 1882, is South Africa’s first
state-funded dam and the first large fill dam in the country, with a reservoir of 75
million m3 capacity.
South Africa’s newest dam is the De Hoop Dam opened in March 2014. It was built at
a cost R3 billion and has a capacity of 347 million m3.
Water Facts & Futures: Rethinking South Africa’s Water Future | Page
37