Molteno – ‘Old boy’ of Cape Town still in service despite chequered start

Abstract

Water history Molteno – ‘Old boy’ of Cape Town still in service despite chequered start Feature “There’s a tank as you might say at the back o’ that big hotel up the hill – what do they call it? ‘The Molteno Reservoir’ , I suggested and Hooper nodded, ” wrote Rudyard Kipling. It is the year 1870 and Cape Town Municipality is one of nine independent municipalities at the foot of Table Mountain. Up to now the town’s growing demand for water has been dependent on water available from numerous springs emanating on the lower slopes of Table Mountain as well as from a few streams. Two reservoirs have recently been built to store enough water to meet the demand during the dry summer months. These reservoirs are rather limited in size, namely 11.4 Ml (1852) and 54.6 Ml (1860). Both are situated at a level of 56.6 m above sea level, being too low to supply the required pressure for the growing reticulation system. They are rather aptly termed the Lower Service Reservoirs. John Gamble was appointed by the Colonial Government as the first Hydraulic Engineer in the Colony.

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