The Gariep Dam
The Source of Sundays River Water
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About Gariep
The Gariep Dam was originally named the Hendrik Verwoerd Dam after the first Prime Minister of the Republic of South Africa Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd on its commission in 1971. However after the end of apartheid the name was considered unsuitable, and the name was officially changed to Gariep Dam on 4 October 1996. Gariep is San for “Great water”, and is the original name of the Orange River.
The Gariep Dam is located near the town of Norvalspont, bordering the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, domestic and industrial use as well as for power generation.
How Gariep Serves Sundays River
The Gariep Dam is the source for Sundays River water.
Water from the Gariep Dam is released into the Orange River through controlled outlets or spillways. As the water flows downstream, it is diverted into the Sundays River via the Sundays River Canal.
The Sundays River Canal is a man-made channel that branches off from the Orange River and transports water towards the Sundays River Valley. This canal is designed to convey a specific volume of water to meet the water requirements of agricultural irrigation, domestic use, and environmental conservation in the Sundays River area.
