Graaf-Reinet's water problems.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Die dorp Graaff-Reinet worstel reeds sedert sy stigting in 1786 met 'n knaende tekort aan water. In hierdie bydrae word die waternood ontleed en aandag geskenk aan onder meer die vroeëre stelsel van oop leivore en "branddamme", asook die tydperk toe waterwerke tot stand gebring is en die munisipaliteit homself bankrot moes verklaar. Deur die bou van die Van Ryneveldpas-dam is gehoop om die waterprobleme op te los. Dog periodieke droogtes het die soutgehalte van die dorp se watervoorraad uitermate verhoog, terwyl die aansprake van oewerboere langs die Sondagsrivier op hul waterregte sake vererger het. Dit het die stadsraad verplig om verskeie ander skemas van watervoorsiening te ondersoek. Hierdie pogings was egter onsuksesvol sodat Graaff-Reinet vandag steeds met die tergende Vraagstuk te kampe het.

• Summary: 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.