Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy

The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy provides a framework for sustainable water resource management in the Breede-Overberg WMA. Key priorities include augmenting water supply through infrastructure and non-conventional sources, reforming water allocation to ensure 15% of agricultural water reaches emerging farmers by 2015, and building institutional and physical resilience to climate change. The strategy emphasizes the transformation of irrigation boards into water user associations and the improvement of hydrological monitoring, particularly in the Overberg region.

• The strategy identifies several potential infrastructure augmentation options in the Breede catchment, including expansions of the Le Chasseur, Bromberg, Reenen Weir, Kwartel River, and Tierstel dams, as well as the raising of Stettynskloof Dam. Other options include the Worcester Irrigation Scheme expansion, Amandel River expansion, and new developments such as off-channel storage in Suurbraak, the Rooiberg Dam/pump in Moordkuil and Robertson, and the Titus River and groundwater wellfields in the Ceres catchment.
• Reducing the level of supply assurance for agricultural water users from Brandvlei Dam could increase available water for resource-poor farmers. A decrease from the current 95% assurance (1 in 20 years) to a 1 in 10 year assurance would make an additional 5 million m3 available, while a drop to 85% assurance (1 in 7 years) would increase this to 20 million m3.
• Groundwater is a significant resource in the Breede-Overberg WMA with a registered abstraction volume of 146 million m3/a as of 2010. While there is potential for increase in the Overberg and northern Central Breede (linked to the Table Mountain Group aquifer), some areas are overexploited. Specifically, the safe yield of the Hex River Valley has been exceeded, leading to brackish water intrusion.
• The strategy proposes a Water Allocation Reform (WAR) target to allocate 15% of agricultural water use to emerging farmers by 2015. Current estimates suggest that Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs) already use between 2% and 5% of agricultural water in the WMA.
• Water re-use and desalination are identified as future supply options. Direct re-use of treated effluent for irrigation and industry is considered cost-effective, though potable re-use remains too expensive. Desalination via Reverse Osmosis is a possible option for coastal towns in the Western and Eastern Overberg, though high energy needs currently push costs above R3/m3.
• Climate change is expected to impact the WMA through increased temperatures, which may increase evapotranspiration, and shifting rainfall patterns. Coastal areas are likely to become drier, while mountain areas may become wetter due to increased orographic rainfall. Extreme events such as floods and droughts are expected to become more frequent.
• The Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency (BOCMA) is tasked with stabilizing institutional arrangements and transforming irrigation boards into water user associations (WUAs). Of 61 irrigation boards, 30 have already transformed into 18 WUAs, leaving 30 yet to transform.
• The strategy highlights significant gaps in water monitoring, particularly in the Overberg where rain gauges and hydrological flow monitoring are insufficient. There is a specific need to improve monitoring in the Upper Breede and Riviersonderend due to mountainous terrain and rapidly shifting rainfall patterns.

APA

GreenCape (n.d.). Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sector-files/water/Department-of-Water-and-Sanitation-DWS/BGCMA-Breede-Overberg-catchment-management-strategy-part-3-of-3-2012.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy. n.d. https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sector-files/water/Department-of-Water-and-Sanitation-DWS/BGCMA-Breede-Overberg-catchment-management-strategy-part-3-of-3-2012.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy |url=https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sector-files/water/Department-of-Water-and-Sanitation-DWS/BGCMA-Breede-Overberg-catchment-management-strategy-part-3-of-3-2012.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencapendbreedeoverberg, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Strategy}}, institution = {GreenCape}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/assets/Sector-files/water/Department-of-Water-and-Sanitation-DWS/BGCMA-Breede-Overberg-catchment-management-strategy-part-3-of-3-2012.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }