Implementation of the first phase of the Mooi-Mgeni water transfer scheme to augment the water supply in the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions has been approved by the South African Water Affairs and Forestry Minister, Ronnie Kasrils.
The Mgeni river is the major source of water for the Durban and Pietermaritzburg regions. The new measures would include the building of an 8m high diversion weir on the Mooi river, the provision of standby pumping capacity at the Mearns pumping station, and the raising of the Midmar dam by 3.5m to store water pumped from the Mooi river.