6.3.9

Case Study: Lesotho Highland Water Project

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The Lesotho Highland Water Project

The Lesotho Highland Water Project is an example of a large-scale water transfer scheme. This project aims to solve the water shortage in South Africa.

Illustrative background for How will the project work?Illustrative background for How will the project work? ?? "content

How will the project work?

  • 40% of the water from the Segu River in Lesotho will be transferred into the River Vaal in South Africa.
  • The project plans to achieve this by using a combination of dams, reservoirs, pipelines, roads and bridges.
Illustrative background for What are the impacts on Lesotho?Illustrative background for What are the impacts on Lesotho? ?? "content

What are the impacts on Lesotho?

  • Advantages:
    • Contributes 75% of Lesotho's GDP
    • Provides hydro-electric power and improves sanitation
  • Disadvantages:
    • 30,000 people had to move to make way for the first two dams
    • The wetland ecosystem has been damaged
    • Money that should have been used for compensation has disappeared due to corruption
Illustrative background for What are the impacts on South Africa?Illustrative background for What are the impacts on South Africa? ?? "content

What are the impacts on South Africa?

  • Advantages:
    • Improves water security
    • Reduces acidity of the Vaal River Reservoir
    • Improves access to safe water
  • Disadvantages
    • Likely to cost US$4 billion
    • 40% of water is lost through leaks
    • Corruption has been a major issue

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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