Civil Engineering January-February 2022 | Vol 30 No 1

42 January/February 2022 Civil Engineering T he book, which was made possible by the generosity of donors and community volunteers, provides an annotated selection of historical photographs depicting the building of the dam, known since 2001 as Nqweba Dam, which supplies free-flowing water to all of Graaff-Reinet’s urban centre. The book explores how the large volumes of con- crete required were produced and placed, the people involved in the construction, how the water was distributed over large distances to farms, and so much more. Dr Johannes Haarhoff, a member of SAICE’s History and Heritage Panel, undertook the photograph selection and interpretation and wrote the bridging text for the book. The following two reviews provide an insight into the book and the engineering feat it portrays. REVIEW BY LEONARDO A. V. MANUS, CHIEF DIRECTOR: INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS, DEPARTMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION So many times, I have stood in awe when beholding the legendary dams that form the basis of our country’s expansive water storage infrastructure, and marvel at the engineering achievements they signify. The natural beauty of the impounded water or the silent majesty of the dam wall masks the true significance it so faithfully fulfils in ensuring enhanced water security. The book superbly succeeds in taking us back into history, giving us another detailed view of dams, regarding the planning and implementation of the Nqweba Dam. This demands new respect for the pioneers who managed, against all odds, to build this dam which still serves all the people of Graaff-Reinet to this day. A few years back there was significant concern about the structural integrity of Nqweba Dam, but the late Prof. Chris Oosthuizen used his wealth of civil engineering experience to judge the risk to be lower than initially anticipated, and the rehabilitation project was accordingly deferred. Getting to know the intense attention which was given to the founda- tion during the construction of the dam Book review: The construction of Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam The Graaff-Reinet Museum has published a collector’s edition coffee table book, titled The construction of Van Ryneveld’s Pass Dam , which tells the story of one of the most important engineering events in the history of Graaff-Reinet, South Africa’s fourth oldest town. The dam nearing completion with prefabricated walkway elements being positioned Concrete pouring with the chute running from a concrete tower at the batching plant