Ash River Outfall

The Ash River Outfall is a concrete channel structure built on a gradient (so that the water has to flow uphill) designed to slow the flow and so reduce the energy and limit environmental damage caused by the increased water volume that enters the Ash River watercourse. A series of dams are under construction downstream of the outfall to reduce the energy of the flow even more. From the Ash River the water follows the natural watercourse into the Liebenbergsvlei and Wilge rivers as they wind towards the Vaal Dam, over a distance of some 200km.

Some l0km before the outfall, water can be released into the Little Caledon River through two outlet valves. The Little Caledon Bypass allows 50% of the Lesotho water to be diverted down the Caledon River to the Welbedacht Dam, to supply the Eastern, Central and Southern Free State, as well as Lesotho border towns under serious drought conditions. Water from the LHWP could supply towns in the Eastern Cape and Karoo, too, through Bloemwater. Water can also be released in Lesotho at the Hlotse Adit and from 'Muela Dam under drought conditions, to supply Lowland towns in Lesotho.