The Lesotho highlands water project (large scale)

• Lesotho

  • Highland country
  • Surrounded by South Africa
  • Heavily dependent economically on South Africa
• Despite food insecurity, Lesotho has a water surplus mainly due to high rainfall in its mountainous regions
• Lesotho Highland Water Project

  A huge water transfer scheme aimed to help solve the water shortage in South Africa
• Lesotho Highland Water Project

  1. Construction of dams

  2. Reservoirs

  3. Pipelines

  4. Roads

  5. Bridges

  6. Other infrastructure
• 40% of the water from the Segu (Orange) River in Lesotho will eventually be transferred to the River Vaal in South Africa
• Advantages of the Lesotho Highland Water Project for Lesotho

  • Provides 75% of Lesotho's GDP
  • Supplies all Lesotho's hydro-electric (HEP) requirements
  • Sanitation coverage will increase from 15 to 20%
• Disadvantages of the Lesotho Highland Water Project for Lesotho

  • Building the first two dams displaced 30000 people
  • Destruction of a unique wetland ecosystem
  • Corruption has prevented money reaching those affected by the construction
• Advantages of the Lesotho Highland Water Project for South Africa

  • Provides water to an area with regular droughts
  • Fresh water reduces the acidity of the Vaal River Reservoir
  • Provides safe water to an extra 10% of the population
• Disadvantages of the Lesotho Highland Water Project for South Africa

  • Costs are likely to reach US$4 billion
  • 40% of water is lost through leakages
  • Corruption has plagued the whole project