Darlington Dam
| Darlington Dam | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Darlington Dam |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | Eastern Cape |
| Coordinates | 33°12′22″S 25°8′1″E / 33.20611°S 25.13361°ECoordinates: 33°12′22″S 25°8′1″E / 33.20611°S 25.13361°E |
| Purpose | Irrigation, industrial and domestic |
| Opening date | 1922 (renovated 1952) |
| Owner(s) | Department of Water Affairs |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Sundays River |
| Height | 35.3 m |
| Length | 230 m |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Mentz |
| Total capacity | 187 000 000 m³ |
| Catchment area | 16 700 km2 |
| Surface area | 3452.7 ha |
Darlington Dam, also referred to as Lake Mentz. is a gravity type dam situated in the Sundays River, near Kirkwood, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It was established in 1922 and was renovated in 1952. The dam has a capacity of 187,000,000 cubic metres (6.6×109 cu ft), with a 35.3 metres (116 ft)-high wall. Its primary purpose is for irrigation, industrial and domestic use.
Droughts created a critical situation in the Darlington Dam (formerly Lake Mentz) region which, despite being a fertile area, requires an assured water supply. The serious drought of 1966 and 1967 emphasized the necessity to commence work on the Skoenmakers Canal (capacity: 22 m3/s) to link the Great Fish River to Darlington Dam as soon as possible. In view of an expected increase in irrigation below Darlington Dam and the demand for water in the Port Elizabeth metropolitan area, it was decided to replace the Wellington Grove pumping station with De Mistkraal Weir upstream of Wellington Grove and a short section of connecting canal to the beginning of the Skoenmakers Canal.