The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is a critical source of water for millions of South Africans. It supplies water to Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, and the Free State, the country’s breadbasket.

The LHWP  tunnels will undergo essential maintenance and repairs between October 2024 and March 2025. The shutdown will have a significant impact on residential and agricultural users.

Why is the LHWP crucial?

The LHWP is a large-scale water transfer project that diverts water from Lesotho’s mountains to South Africa. The project provides over 1.27 billion cubic meters of water annually. This is enough to fill 508,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools every year!

The LHWP launched in 1998 and was developed as a partnership between Lesotho and South Africa. It involved building a series of dams, reservoirs, and tunnels throughout Lesotho. These all deliver water to the Vaal River system in South Africa.

The LHWP is essential for several reasons:

• It provides 60% of Gauteng’s water.
• It supplies irrigation water for farms.
• It supplies water to areas with low rainfall.
• It contributes to public health by delivering clean water.
• It helps reduce pollution in the Vaal River.

Why is the tunnel shutting down?

The tunnels need essential maintenance to ensure their integrity. Technicians and engineers will inspect the tunnels, fix any problems, and make reports. They cannot do this when the tunnels are full of water.  The last maintenance shutdown was in 2019.

What will the impact be?

The shutdown will likely lead to water restrictions in residential areas. People may also need to rely on more expensive alternative water sources, such as bottled water or groundwater.  This could lead to changes in water consumption habits.

How can we soften the impact?

There are a few things that can be done to lessen the impact of the shutdown:

• Public awareness campaigns can encourage people to save water.
• The government can offer incentives for people to adopt water-efficient appliances and practices.
• The government and municipalities can develop plans to maintain a consistent water supply.
• Investing in a backup water supply or borehole can help to provide water during the shutdown. 

The impact of the shutdown will depend on three things:

• The government’s plan to manage the water shortage
• How much water people save
• The availability of alternative water sources

Working together, we can ensure that the impact of the LHWP tunnel shutdown is as minimal as possible.