Lesotho Highland Water Project

Question 1

where is Lesotho

Answer 1

Highland country in Southern Africa surrounded by the country of South Africa
South of Tropic of Capricorn
East of Prime Meridian

Question 2

what is Lesotho like

Answer 2

has few resources
high levels of poverty
unable to feed its growing population
Lesotho heavily economically dependent on S. Africa
has water surplus - mountains receive h. rainfal and demand for water is low

Question 3

temperature range of Lesotho

Answer 3

-2 to 28

Question 4

rainfall of Lesotho

Answer 4

10mm to 88mm / month
~1000mm/yr

Question 5

seasonal distribution of rainfall

Answer 5

highest - Dec-Mar
lowest - Jun-Sep
in between, its increasing or decreasing

Question 6

aim of LHWP

Answer 6

water transfer scheme aimed to help solve water shortage in S. Africa.
On completion, 40% of the water from the Segu River in Lesotho transferred to River Vaal in S. Africa.
generate HEP for Lesotho
promote dev. of remote mountain regions of Lesotho

Question 7

how much water will be transferred to S. Africa each year when the 200km of tunnels are completed

Answer 7

2B m^3

Question 8

how much does S. Africa pay Lesotho per month for this water supply

Answer 8

US$1.5M/month in royalties

Question 9

+ves 4 Lesotho

Answer 9

• scheme provides 75% of Lesotho’s GDP
• santitation coverage across the country will increase from 15% of population to 20%
• water supplied by the scheme will eventually supply 90% of the population of the capital, Maseru
• Muela pwr station provides NRG for Lesotho.
• 100s of km of tarred roads built to improve access to different construction sites.
• Together w/ gravel ‘feeder’ roads around the dams, they provide much improved comms 4 many mountainous villages.
• ~4k ppl got temporary jobs at the Katse Dam
• 1k local ppl worked at Mohale Dam

Question 10

-ves 4 Lesotho

Answer 10

• construction of Polihali Dam will displace 17 villages + reduce agricultural land for 71 villages
• building of the 1st 2 dams did mean that 30k ppl had to move their lands
• corruption has prevented money + investments reaching those affected by the construction

Question 11

+ves 4 S. Africa

Answer 11

• provides water for 10% of the population w/o access to safe water supply
• fresh water reduces the acidity of Vaal River Resevoir.

Question 12

-ves 4 S. Africa

Answer 12

• costs US$4B
• atm ~40% water lost through leakages