JOHANNESBURG – The Department of Water and Sanitation is urging unregistered dam owners across South Africa to register their dams to ensure compliance with safety regulations. This call follows a gazette notice issued by Minister Pemmy Majodina, requiring the registration of dams with a safety risk as outlined by the National Water Act and the Dam Safety Regulations.
Dams with a storage capacity over 50,000 m³ and a height of more than five meters are considered high-risk and must be registered. Owners must verify their registration status, update details if already registered, and submit classification forms if not. These forms can be obtained from the department’s website or local offices.
Dam owners are also required to conduct safety inspections every five years, performed by an Approved Professional Person (APP), who assesses the dam’s flood management capabilities and structural integrity. Failure to implement the APP’s recommendations may lead to punitive measures.
The department is launching a multimedia campaign to raise awareness about the importance of dam registration and compliance to protect public safety, property, and the environment. The campaign also aims to create a comprehensive database for better regulation and risk management.
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