Von Bach Dam

The Von Bach Dam (originally the Sartorius von Bach Dam) is a rock-fill embankment dam on the Swakop River near Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. Built in 1968 and commissioned in 1970, the dam provides Namibia's capital of Windhoek with much of the city's water.^[3] It also supplies Okahandja.^[4] The dam has a capacity of 48.56 million cubic metres (63,510,000 cu yd).^[5] Water from the reservoir is sent directly to a water treatment plant downstream. The treatment plant was completed in 1971 and upgraded in 1997.^[6]

Von Bach Dam
Location of Von Bach Dam in Namibia
Official name	Von Bach Dam
Country	Namibia
Location	Okahandja, Otjozondjupa Region
Coordinates	22°0′50.49″S 16°57′12.73″E
Construction began	1968
Opening date	1970
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment, rock-fill
Impounds	Swakop River
Height	35 m (115 ft)
Height (foundation)	40 m (130 ft)
Length	270 m (890 ft)
Width (crest)	7 m (23 ft)[1]
Spillway type	Chute
Reservoir
Total capacity	48.56×10^6 m3 (63,510,000 cu yd)
Surface area	4.89 km2 (1.89 sq mi)[2]