Graaf-Reinet's water problems

Abstract

Since its establishment in 1786 Graaff-Reinet has been plagued by persistent water shortages. This article traces the often controversial problem from the time of open furrows and branddamme, through the waterworks period when the municipality was forced to declare itself bankrupt, to the Van Ryneveld's Pass Dam era. The building of the latter seemed to ensure a permanent supply of water. But periodic droughts, which caused the town's water supply to become impregnated with salts, and the water rights of irrigators lower down the Sundays River, proved to be almost insurmountable problems. These difficulties led the town council to launch investigations into various alternative water supply schemes. Unfortunately these were unsuccessful and Graaff-Reinet enters its third century no nearer to solving its ever-vexing water problems.