The Metolong Programme consists of two sub-Programmes and three projects:

1. Advance Infrastructure: Construction of project access roads, power supply, water and sanitation systems, telecommunications and construction of camps and operational facilities to support the civil works activities.

2. Metolong Dam:  Construction of a 73 metre-high roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam with a 210 metre crest length, 53m m3 reservoir capacity and a multi-stage raw water intake and pump station. The dam will be adjacent to the villages of Ha Seeiso, Metolong and Ha Makotoko on the South Phuthiatsana River, about 35km from Maseru.

The Metolong Dam is to be designed and constructed with funds provided by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) (collectively KBOS), the Saudi Fund for Development, the OPEC Fund, and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).  An independent consultant will be procured based on the KBOS guidelines to develop designs and tender documents, and provide supervision during construction.  The World Bank, which has funded the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the dam is anticipated to fund the environmental mitigation and resettlement issues related to the dam.

3. Water Treatment Works (WTW): Construction of a 75ML/day water treatment plant and ancillary facilities which include a raw water transmission main and a high lift pump station for the treated water.
Funding for the WTW will be provided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The Water Treatment Works has three major components:

• An 800 m long, 1100mm diameter raw water transmission main, sized for 2035 demands, from the dam to the  water treatment plant located on the top of the right bank.
• A 75 Ml/day water treatment plant (WTP) (to meet 2020 demands) with a peak capacity of 94 Ml/day
• A pump station (Ha Seeiso) at the WTP with an average pumping capacity of 859 l/s (75 Ml/day), and a peak discharge capacity of 1,088 l/s (94 Ml/day) to meet 2020 demands.

4. Downstream Conveyance System (DCS):  Construction of transmission pipelines, reservoirs and other ancillary facilities to convey treated water to Maseru, Morija, Mazenod, Roma and Teyateyaneng.

The funding for the construction of the DCS is expected to come from various sources.  The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is expected to fund a portion of the primary line from the WTW to Maseru. The World Bank will fund the secondary line to Teyateyaneng.  The remainder of the primary line to Maseru, the Metolong Connector System, and the secondary lines to Roma, Mazenod and Morija has funding guaranteed by the Government of Lesotho up until appropriate funding is sourced from donors.  The tertiary lines that branch off the secondary lines are expected to attract funding, but have not been included in this scope description until funding becomes more certain.  

The design of the conveyance system and preparation of tender documents was funded by the European Union and performed for the Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Unit (LLWSU) by the Lowlands Water Joint Venture (LWJV). The Metolong Connector section will be designed in 2009. Funding for the Construction Supervision of the portions of the lines to be construction will be provided by the MCC. 

The following descriptions of the conveyance system are based on the August 2008 drawings by the LWJV, and Figure 8-16 from the MWH, 2007 report. 

• The primary transmission line from Metolong to Maseru for 2020 demands includes:

o A 3.842 km x 1,168 mm transmission main from the WTW to the Command Reservoir.
o A Command Reservoir with a capacity of 20 ML or 20,000 m³.
o A 29.5 km x 864 mm diameter gravity main from the Command Reservoir to the Mpilo Reservoir in Maseru.
o A 25 Ml  (25,000m³) reservoir at the Mpilo site.
o A 1.25 km x 400 mm gravity main to the Maseru High South Reservoir.

• The Metolong Connector, part of the primary transmission system includes:
o A 600mm pipeline from the proposed Mpilo Reservoir to Lesotho Sun Reservoir (LSR)-E for a distance of approximately 1km.
o A 400mm pipeline for a distance of 0.6km connecting the above proposed 600mm pipeline to LSR-D. 
o A 400mm pipeline for a distance of 1.1km connecting the High South Reservoir (HSR) to the Metolong Transmission Line at Junction B.
o A flow control valve along the proposed 600mm pipeline downstream of the Mpilo reservoir prior to connecting to LSR.
o A flow control valve along the proposed 400mm pipeline downstream of Junction B prior to connecting to HSR.
o A 450mm bypass at HSR PS for a distance of 75m.
o A 250mm connection between the 450mm and 250mm pipelines near PS9 for a length of 16m.
o A 250mm connection between the 450mm and 250mm pipelines near PS8 for a length of 50m.
o A 300mm diameter pipeline, 5.6km in length from the Metolong Transmission to the proposed reservoir at Naleli.
o A flow control valve along the proposed 300mm pipeline prior to connecting to the Naleli reservoir.
o A 450mm bypass at Mabote PS for a length of 75m.

• A secondary transmission system for Roma and Mazenod includes:
o An 8.7 km x 660mm diameter gravity main toward Roma, Mazenod and Morija.
o A 12.2 km gravity line for Roma varying in diameter from 500 mm to 250 mm.
o An 9.7 km x 450 mm diameter gravity line plus a 3.55 kms x 300mm diameter gravity line for Mazenod.
o A 1,250 m³ reservoir for Roma and a 3,000 m³ reservoir for Mazenod.

• A secondary transmission system for Morija includes:
o A 9.1 km x 400 mm diameter gravity/transmission main between Mazenod and Mantsebo.
o A 9.4 km x 450 mm diameter plus a  10.0km x 400 mm diameter plus a 2.0 km x 150 mm diameter gravity main from Mantsebo to Morija.
o A 145 l/sec booster pump station at Mantsebo.
o A 750 m³ reservoir at Morija.

• A secondary transmission system for Teyateyaneng (TY) includes:
o 32 km of pipeline from 300mm to 450mm diameter.
o A break pressure reservoir of 750 m³.
o A command and sump reservoir of 2,000 m³.
o A pump station for 138 l/sec near the WTW.

5. Environment and Social Management Programme:  Execution of a comprehensive environmental and social mitigation and monitoring programme including cultural resources management and development, land acquisition and resettlement, catchment management , HIV/AIDS awareness programme among other activities.

Metolong Dam and Water Supply Project (MDWSP) and ancillary developments will be carried out in an environmentally and socially responsible and sustainable manner and in accordance with relevant national and international legal and regulatory requirements by: 

• Ensuring that all impacted persons are legally and adequately compensated for any losses caused by the project on time through implementation of the Resettlement and Compensation programme.

• Safeguarding the water quality of the Metolong Reservoir and ensuring long-term sustainable management of the reservoir and the catchment through implementation of the Integrated Catchment Management Programme

• Maintaining reservoir water quality and downstream ecosystems in optimal health through adequate environmental flow allocations through the implementation of the Instream Flow Requirements (IFR) and Water Quality Monitoring Programme.

• Planning for and implementing the Cultural Resources Management Programme in order to mitigate the negative impacts and promote protection and preservation of the Southern Phuthiatsana sub-region of Metolong, as a contribution to the national cultural heritage conservation and to undertake appropriate developments that will ensure conservation and sustainable utilization of these resources.
 
• Managing and minimizing the HIV/AIDS impacts of the project on the labour force and surrounding communities through inclusion of HIV/AIDS Management clauses in all construction contracts through implementation of the MDWSP HIV/AIDS Policy and Strategy.

• Monitoring and ensuring compliance of all contractors to set Environmental Management Plans and specifications.

• Maintaining effective and transparent communication, participation and consultation channels with the interested and affected parties and stakeholders, in particular, communities affected by the Project.