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Steenbras Hydro-Electric Lower Dam


The Steenbras Hydro-Electric Lower Dam, formerly known as the Steenbras Dam, is a concrete dam that is used for water storage and electricity generation. The dam is located in the Hottentots Holland Mountains, which is above the harbour suburb of Gordon's Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa.

History
In the late 1800s, Scottish civil engineer Thomas Stewart investigated potential dam sites along the Steenbras River for the purpose of supplying water to the Mowbray and Rondebosch municipalities. A rivalry between those supporting the Steenbras dam project and those supporting the Wemmershoek project caused delays in construction and, after a referendum was held, construction was completed in 1921.

Demand for water in Cape Town grew and in 1926 the dam was raised by 13 metres to improve capacity. After World War II, a two-metre high extension was installed to increased the dam's capacity by 60%.

Structure
The Steenbras Hydro-Electric Lower Dam has a dam wall that is 28 metres (92 ft) high and 412 metres (1,352 ft) long. It impounds a reservoir of 36,133 megalitres (1,276.0×106 cu ft) over a surface area of 380 hectares (940 acres) when full.

Capacity
The Steenbras Hydro-Electric Lower Dam is the smallest of the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) dams and holds less that 4% of the total water capacity of the system.

Electricity generation
The Steenbras Power Station is managed by the City of Cape Town's Electricity Department. The Power Station is made up of four hydroelectric turbines and during peak hours, the upper reservoir's water is used to generate energy via the turbines.

See also:

 * Steenbras Power Station