Myponga Dam
| Myponga Dam | |
|---|---|
The dam wall and reservoir, in 2010, viewed from the lookout | |
Myponga Dam Location of the dam in South Australia | |
Interactive map of Myponga Dam | |
| Country | Australia |
| Location | Myponga, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 35°24′01″S 138°25′13″E / 35.40035°S 138.420224°E |
| Purpose | Water supply |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1958 |
| Opening date | 1962 |
| Built by | Hansen, Wilkens & Hornibrook Construction |
| Owner | Government of South Australia |
| Operator | SA Water |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Arch dam |
| Impounds | Myponga River |
| Height (foundation) | 49 m (161 ft) |
| Length | 226 m (741 ft) |
| Dam volume | 54×103 m3 (1.9×106 cu ft) |
| Spillway type | Controlled |
| Spillway capacity | 1,400 m3/s (49,000 cu ft/s) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Myponga Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 27.13 GL (21,990 acre⋅ft) |
| Active capacity | 26.8 GL (21,700 acre⋅ft) |
| Catchment area | 124 km2 (48 sq mi) |
| Surface area | 280 ha (690 acres) |
| Normal elevation | 205 m (673 ft) AHD |
The Myponga Dam is an arch dam across the Myponga River, located near the eponymous town, on the Fleurieu Peninsula of South Australia. Completed in 1962, the resultant reservoir, the Myponga Reservoir, was established to supplement the supply of potable water to Adelaide, located approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) to the north.[1]
Overview
The concrete dam wall is 49 metres (161 ft) high and 226 metres (741 ft) long. When full, the reservoir has capacity of 27.13 gigalitres (21,990 acre⋅ft) and covers 280 hectares (690 acres), drawn from a catchment area of 124 square kilometres (48 sq mi). The controlled spillway has a flow capacity of 1,400 cubic metres per second (49,000 cu ft/s).[2] In addition to supplying approximately 5 percent of Adelaide's water supply,[1] the reservoir is the main source of filtered water for southern metropolitan Adelaide and the southern coast area.
Plans to use the Myponga River catchment as a major storage area were made in 1945. Construction began in 1958 and was completed in 1962, flooding what was from 1840 known as "Lovely Valley".[3] Prior to the construction of the Myponga Water Treatment Plant in 1993, water from the Myponga Reservoir was used to supplement the Happy Valley Reservoir.[4]
Other
The reservoir was searched for the bodies of the Beaumont children, and Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon in early 1990, based on evidence against Bevan Spencer von Einem delivered by "Mr. B", a witness. No remains were found there.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b "The Myponga River Catchment" (PDF). Department of Environment and Heritage, Government of South Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
- ^ "Register of Large Dams Australia-2015" (Excel. Requires download. Row 236). ANCOLD. January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ^ "PROGRESS OF THE COLONY-FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1840". South Australian Register. Adelaide. 4 July 1840. p. 4. Retrieved 24 September 2011 – via Trove. National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Water Storage (Reservoirs): Myponga Reservoir". SA Water. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 2 June 2007.
- ^ "Myponga Reservoir". The Beaumont Children. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
External links
Media related to Myponga Reservoir at Wikimedia Commons