PAPERS

PAPER 17

FLOODING IN LADYSMITH, PROBLEMS AND

SOLUTIONS.

Dr. Nezar A. Eldidy, Pr.Eng.

Sobek (PTY) Ltd

ABSTRACT
Flooding has been recurring in Ladysmith for the past 170 years due
to its peculiar location in the uThukela catchment, in the foothills of
the Drakensberg mountains. During 1987 and 1988, Ladysmith was
flooded on three separate occasions and extensive damage was caused
to residences and businesses. The worst flooding in 30 years occurred
in 1996 leading to R500 million in damages and the evacuation of 400
families. Efforts to tame the river and manage the flooding has been
going on since the 1940s. Subsequently, several solutions were put
forward, including the relocation of residents, improved flood warning
systems, channel improvement using levees, and the construction of
a flood attenuation dam. Some of these solutions were implemented.
Due to climate changes, research showed that the rain intensity slightly
increases from year to year. Also, the return periods are getting closer
than expected. The existing drainage system needs to be examined and
its performance to be evaluated during flood incidents.
The paper diagnoses the causes to the chronic flooding and presents
the various approaches to solve the problem. The paper examines
the local risks, suggests measures and adjustment to the current
drainage system, suggests measures to maintain the river systems and
successfuly implement the solution within a tight schedule.
FIGURE 1: Ladysmith within uThukela Catchment Area

INTRODUCTION
Sequel to the continuous rain period exceeding 10 days over Ladysmith; openings (without gates) that allows a discharge of 450 cu.m/sec. The
it flooded. The town is subject to cycles of flood and subsequent dam limits any large-scale damage and provides an adequate evacuation
calamities since its creation. In January of this year, it was devastated warning period.
with the death of 28 people. The floods left more than 100 people
homeless and were forced to evacuate to Care Centres. The town was LOCATION, POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT
flooded on 3 different occasions between January and April of 2022. Ladysmith is located on the banks of the Klip River at 26°48’11.83” E,
The town of Ladysmith was proclaimed on the 20th of June 1850 on latitude 8°33’ 35.30”S, with its central business district and a large part
the floodplain of the Klip River, and since then, flooding has always of the residential areas located within the flood basin of the river. It is at
been part of the town’s history. The first hundred years of the town’s the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains. The Thukela and Klip Rivers
records show no less than 27 flood events. The worst flooding in 30 are the source of water for the Thukela-Vaal Transfer Scheme, which,
years occurred in 1996 leading to R500 million in damages and the inter alia, transfers water to the Vaal River System.
evacuation of 400 families. Efforts to tame the river and mitigate the The latest population records show the population of Ladysmith
flooding has been going on since the 1940s. to stand at about 250,000 capita. However, this population figure
In 1949, the Windsor Dam was completed, but the dam silted up very appears to be gross underestimation for 2022. The land in the Thukela
quickly and was not an effective means of flood control. As a result, catchment is mainly used for agriculture which includes beef and dairy
a special committee was appointed to investigate the problem and pastures, sugar cane, vegetables, nuts, and citrus fruit. Other areas of
come up with solutions. Various ideas were, consequently, put forward, the catchment are dedicated to game reserves and national parks, such
including the relocation of residents, improved flood warning systems, as uKbahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site.
channel improvement using levees, and the construction of a flood Soil erosion is a particularly serious problem in the upper catchment
attenuation dam. The aforementioned solutions were implemented areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province and communal land mainly linked
leading to the construction of the Qedusizi Dam in 1996 on the Sand to poor grazing management and abandoned agricultural fields. In
and Klip River. The dam has a 32 m-high dam wall and was designed the Northwest of Ladysmith in particular, severe overgrazing and soil
to manage the flood peaks and hold or delay floodwater from the erosion problems are being experienced in the Driefontein Block and
upper region of the Klip River’s catchment area. It was designed with 2 Marianismo areas.

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FIGURE 2: Topography of Ladysmith CBD and its flood plain – Basemap from Google

The Ladysmith area is extremely rich in cultural heritage sites of various ground cutting across from Princess Street to Alexander Street at a level
traditions and periods. At least twenty-one cultural heritage sites are of 997 amsl. (The area marked in blue in Figure 2 is the lowest area within
situated adjacent to the N11 that is crossing the town from south to the CBD).
the north. These include Later Iron Age sites, Anglo-Boer War period
sites, homesteads, and farmsteads older than sixty years of age, public RAIN INTENSITY AND RIVER HYDROLOGY
buildings over sixty years of age, one memorial, and two contemporary The analysis of the precipitation during flood events at which such period
places of worship. All the historical homesteads and public buildings shows the following:
are in Lyell Street within the Ladysmith Central Business District (CBD).• The Maximum Daily Precipitation (MDP) occurring at every 25-year
period stands at 95mm.
TOPOGRAPHY OF LADYSMITH’S CBD • The Maximum Hourly Precipitation (MHP) is about 40mm with a return
Ladysmith’s CBD is like a cradle surrounded by the meanders of the Klip period of less than 4 years.
River from the left and the right at a higher level than most of it. The Windsor dam was constructed to retain the centennial flood water, or
CBD is surrounded by elevated ground, with the lowest flood water that exceeds a flow of 700cu.m per sec. It was reported that,
historically the Klip River
had a full bank discharge
of approximately 700m
cu.m/s, such carrying
capacity deteriorated over
the years due to siltation
and lack of maintenance
of the meanders of the Klip
River. The Qedusizi Dam
during a flood incident
is restricted to about 450
cu.m/s to retain more floods
than Windsor Dam. The
latter was decommissioned
in 1998. Additional peak
flow of 50 cu.m/s shown
entering the Klip river from
FIGURE 3: Max-Min values of recorded monthly rain intensity in Ladysmith – source: weather-atlas.com the Southwest through

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734,000cu.m/hr (about 203 cu.m/sec),

flowing towards the lowest point of
the CBD, the flood will cover up to Lyell
Street; putting Forbes Street under 3 m
of water on average.

GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS AND

SOIL TYPES
The geology underneath the Ladysmith
area is part of Vryheid Formation of the
ECCA group, its geology consists of
shales, mudstones and fine-grained
sandstones These were intruded by
dolerite sills and dykes of Jurassic age.
On top of the sandstone/shales
subsoil, lies a layer of loamy clay. The
clay-rich soils have the largest pore
space; hence, has the highest water
retention capacity.
The typical co-efficiency of seepage
for such soil stands at 0.8cm/hr, as an
average value for this type of soil. The
estimated seepage to the soil from the
meander and the surface of the CBD is
1700 and 1800cu.m/hr, respectively.
Investigations in the vicinity of
FIGURE 4: River System Upstream of Ladysmith CBD Ladysmith, where soil is of the
same soil structure, experienced a
Flagstoneproot during flood events. (Source: Alfred Duma municipality). groundwater level fluctuation and rainfall variation of approximately
Based on the historical data of flow, the probability of a flow of about 3.2m and 15% respectively. In general, the response of groundwater
1000cu.cm/sec, occurring upstream the Qedusizi Dam is about 70% levels to changes in rainfall across the province has a lag time from
every 5 years, while the probability of a flood about 1500 cu.m/sec can 2 to 4 months.
happen every 100 years.

THE CARRYING CAPACITY OF

THE RIVER
Studying the cross-sectional
capacity of the Klip River’s
meander; results show that the
section’s average carrying capacity
has deteriorated to less than 50%
of the maximum discharge from
the Qedusizi dam and represents
about 23% of the original carry
capacity in some areas (section 3 of
Figure 4).
Sections 1 to 3 are critical, and
will overflow the banks, even
during a 5-year flood cycle. These
sections are on a higher land of
the CBD, and flood water breaches
the levees and overflows the
banks towards the lowest point in
the CBD.
Based on the cross sections of
the river in Table 1, the quantity of
water overflowing the river’s banks FIGURE 5: Key plan for section assessed along Klip River to be read with Table 1 – Basemap
from sections 1 to 3 is to be about from Google

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TABLE 1: Section properties long the meander as per Figure 4 THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN LADYSMITH CBD
The existing drainage pipes convey the storm water from the CBD into
the Klip River through the 24 existing valve chambers (Figure 6).
The stormwater drains, pipes and existing structures are used to
collect and carry stormwater away and release it into the river. The
exiting stormwater system feeds the Klip River through the Duckbill
Check valves.
In a post flood inspection, 11 out of 24 Check Valves were either
damaged, or completely pulled out. Theoretically, such valves are non-
return valves, but in practice, they come under passive pressure (water
head from the receiving body) during flood and turbulence occurs at
the outlet, which leads to damage of the valve.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A FLOOD EVENT?

The water gradually rises behind Qedusizi dam and the discharge
from the dam increases, raising the level of Klip River water. At peak
discharge, the water level can reach up to 9m height in the river, and
the following scenarios occur:
1. Water backflows through the drainage system:
The riverbed of Klip River meanders through the CBD and varies between

FIGURE 6: Drainage System through CBD – Courtesy Alfred Duma Municipality

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996 and 992amsl, while the drainage pipes outfalls are located directly geotextiles to discharge water downstream of the CBD.
above the riverbed with diameters of 900mm to 1200mm. During a rain • Replace Duckbell Valves with automated Sluice Gates or with
event the Duckbill valves will be opened to discharge water from the Flap valves.
CBD drainage gravity line (Active Pressure), while from the river side • Installing 1 x 900mm collector pipeline across, from Alexander to
(or the receiving body) the water will also be rising until it exceeds the Princess Street, with concrete chambers. The pipe will be a higher
top of the pipe or the upper tip of the already opened valve. when the level than current drains.
water head in the river exceeds the level of Forbes Street (i.e., Passive • Installing 2 x 600mm steel pipeline to evacuate water from pipe
Water Pressure from the river side exceeds the Active Pressure), water station to the discharge lagoon.
will flow back into the drainage system, and back to CBD. the backflow
can reach 72,000cu.m/hr which can put the area marked in blue in CONCLUSION
Figure 2 (i.e., the lowest area in the CBD) under approximately 2m of The location of Ladysmith CBD leaves it vulnerable to flooding, especially
water within 3.5 hours of reaching high water level in the river due to that all studies show that there is an increase in the rain intensity and
pressure difference. the imminent possibility of flooding due to climate change. Selection
of the right equipment for the drainage system, can guard against
2. Water overflowing the Banks: flooding, however the need for yearly maintenance of the river channel
When water flow from Qedusizi dam reaches the maximum discharge is paramount. Looking into Qedusizi dam maintenance is necessary, to
of 450cu.m/s, it flows towards the CBD joined by a discharge of avoid silt built-up behind the dam wall like the Windsor dam.
50 cu.m/s from the Flagstonesproot to reach the meander upstream of There is a need to emphasize the annual maintenance culture in local
the Ladysmith CBD, the water will breach the banks of the meander and government to avoid deterioration of the asset. Alternatively, we shall
pour about 350cu.m/s towards the CBD, as a result of the reduction of be faced by building a dam for every existing dam instead of dredging
the carrying capacity of the meander/river cross-section. and de-silting.

3. The runoff of the CBD: REFERENCES

It contributes about 60,000cu.m/hr during the storm, but the Lani van Vuuren. 2012. In the Footsteps of Giants Exploring the history
controlling factor is the level in the water of the river, which happens to of South Africa’s large dams: Water Research Commission of South
be backflowing to the CBD. Africa - SP 31/12.

4. Slow drainage through soil: Turpie, J.K., Letley, G., Schmidt, K., Weiss, J., O’Farrell and Jewitt, D. 2021.
Due to the nature of the soil, as discussed above, the Loamy clay retains The potential costs and benefits of addressing land degradation in
the water and takes considerable time to drain, which increases the the Thukela catchment, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: NCAVES project
surface runoff through the city. report: https://seea.un.org/content/knowledge-base.

FLOOD’S SOLUTIONS IN LADYSMITH CBD Department of Water Affairs and Forestry November 2004 - Thukela
From the above, it is necessary to attribute the flooding of the city to WMA: Internal Strategic Perspective: DWAF Report No: P WMA
the following: 07/000/00/0304
1. Topography and location of Ladysmith CBD.
2. Siltation and lack of maintenance to the Klip River meander. M. S. Ndlovu and M. Demlie - 26 October 2018. Statistical analysis of
3. The non-functional valves at the outfalls of the drainage system. groundwater level variability across KwaZulu-Natal Province, South
Several solutions have already been implemented, such as the Africa - Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany
warning system, raising the levees, and the construction of Qedusizi
dam. However, flooding shall always be an attribute of Ladysmith due Department of Water Affairs - National Water Resource Strategy -
its location. September 2009- First Edition.

Four solutions were investigated such as: W. M. Walford - Evaluating the Use of Neural Networks to Predict River
1. Relocation of Ladysmith’s CBD. Flow Gauge Values - University of Pretoria 2017
2. Full dredging of the riverbed and reformation of the channel.
3. Partial dredging and lining of the channel. https://stec.ukzn.ac.za/ecca-group last accessed March 15, 2022.
4.  Construction of an Aqueduct for water transfer from upstream
to downstream. https://northernnatalnews.co.za/327611/ladysmith-kzn-a-before-and-
While the first and the last solution proved to be politically, after-look-at-the-qedusizi-dam-water-level/.
environmentally, and financially costly, the second solution proved to
be practical and attainable with the support of the national government.
The preferred solution is mainly:
• Dredging of about 1.0 million cu. m of silt and deposits from the river,
to enlarge and deepen the cross-sections.
• I nstalling a pump station on Queen Street. The station hosts 3 pumps
of about 1 cu.m/sec discharge and head not less than 10m.
• Building a discharge and calming lagoon with gabions and lined with

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