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PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) in the Western Cape, on Tuesday (20 August) led a media tour to the Keurboom gauging weir in Plettenberg Bay which is being refurbished.
The refurbishment of the weir was as a result of the 2011 and 2012 devastating floods that washed the flanks away, leaving the foundations of the walls undercut.
The entire gabion/Reno mattresses erosion protection infrastructure downstream of the left bank cut-off wall was completely destroyed.
The destruction of the erosion protection works also resulted in the undercutting of the cut-off wall foundation for approximately 90% of the length of the wall.
Sputnik Ratau, DWS National Spokeperson, says the remedial work was therefore needed to address the unsafe conditions that exist at the cut-off wall to prevent the potential loss of life downstream of the gauging weir and/or the loss of functionality of the gauging weir.
Various options to repair the gauging weir were investigated. The most viable and economical solution to repair the structure and reduce potential risk of any future damage was to construct a reinforced concrete chute immediately downstream of the wall which will mimic the scour channel that formed after the flood events.
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The chute will have a floor that slopes downwards from the left bank of the river towards the Crump weir crests. The chute will also expand in plan from the left bank towards the Crump weir crests.
Ratau further states that this is a good story to tell as the DWS has designed the rehabilitation works and is constructing the proposed chute structure and re-constructing the gauging weir to prevent any further damage.
“We are proud of the fact that the refurbishment is being undertaken by our DWS team as this demonstrate that we have talented employees with technical expertees.” says Ratau
The gauging weir is a compounded Crump structure, 25m in length, equipped with a fish ladder.
Photo: Supplied
Keurbooms River is a major source of water supply to the Plettenberg Bay area in the Bitou Local Municipality in the Western Cape. The weir at the Plettenberg area started measuring flow in October 1997.
Gauging stations, in general, play a significant role as they are used as early warning systems for floods, thus minimising potential damage by floods.
The refurbishment of the gauging weir is 95% complete and is anticipated that the construction of the chute will be completed before end of September 2019, weather dependent.
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