GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route Botanical Garden (GRBG) has received a donation to upgrade its infrastructure, enabling them to use water from the Van Kervel Dam and making them independent of municipal water, which comes at a cost.

A generous member of the public donated the infrastructure following an article published in George Herald about the dam reaching capacity. The donor wishes to remain anonymous.

In a letter thanking the donor, vice chairman of the GRBG Ray Smith said, "The privilege that we have to expand and improve our garden cannot be over-stated. The donation comes at a crucial time in our strategy to add value regarding the renewal of attractions under development."

The GRBG will soon have access to the estimated 18,2 million litres of water held by the Van Kervel Dam. Currently the garden uses an estimated 30 000 litres of water per week which is sourced from the small cofferdam which has an estimated capacity of 50 000 litres. But this dam can't always be used, especially when the river feeding it is low.

Curator of the GRBG Christiaan Viljoen said in February this year they were completely dependent on municipal water because they couldn't use the cofferdam.

Viljoen explained that the first phase of the upgrade will consist of a submersible pump installed in the deep side of the Van Kervel Dam. Pipes will be laid to the public nursery where indigenous plants are grown, as well as the propagation nursery.

The Garden Route Birds of Prey rehab centre will also be able to use the water. The second phase will include the erection of three

5 000-litre water storage drums at the propagation nursery, which will double the current storage capacity of 15 000 litres to 30 000 litres.

"The mitigation of the threat of extreme drought or flood damage to infrastructure requires the secure storage and distribution of mountain water. It should also be noted that the use of the expensive treated municipal water should be avoided as it is not suitable for our indigenous plant propagation," said Smith. 

The indigenous plants prefer the PH levels of the Van Kervel Dam's water.

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