|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You Are
Here: |
Local News|
Friday, May 23, 2003 - Web posted at 12:59:40 GMT City running on empty CHRISTOF MALETSKYTHE water shortage in Windhoek is critical. Unless the Namibian capital receives rain in the next few months, the three main dams feeding the central areas will only able to supply water until March next year. |
|
NamWater and Windhoek City Council yesterday called on Windhoek residents and major industries to cut their water consumption by 10 per cent. NamWater spokesperson Johannes Shigwedha told a media briefing that the Von Bach, Omatako and Swakoppoort dams only contain enough water to meet demand for the central area until March. But, he warned: "This is only if the present content in the dams is used in conjunction with Windhoek boreholes, groundwater sources in the north of Namibia and the City of Windhoek reclamation plant". He said the Von Bach dam was expected to run dry by March next year. Alongside the call for a cut in water use, NamWater will increase the rate at which it pumps water in from the Swakoppoort dam. However, Shigwedha warned that an increase in water drawn from Swakoppoort will mean that the dam will be empty by November next year. Windhoek boreholes will operate at maximum capacity, while around three million cubic metres of water will be pumped into the city from the Berg Aukhas mine near Grootfontein each year. "If these measures are successful, we will be able to breach the two rainy seasons, in other words, reach March-April without any in-flow in the dams," Shigwedha said. Windhoek's annual water demand is around 19 465 million cubic metres, which is expected to increase to around 20 305 million cubic metres. Conscious of the high water demands of the Ramatex textile factory, Shigwedha, without being asked, was quick to say it was not the result of poor planning. "People might think that it is linked to the new textile factory [Ramatex]. That is not true. The amount of water they will use is around four per cent," he said. The Municipality said earlier that Ramatex will use around 840 000 cubic metres of water a year. Windhoek boreholes are expected to supply 4,8 million cubic metres; the Goreangab water reclamation plant 5,5 million cubic metres; and the Von Bach dam 10 million cubic metres. Windhoek Municipality's water expert, Piet du Pisani, said the two institutions had been aware of the threat for some time and were hoping that the water restrictions would produce results. Last year the Council appealed to residents to cut their daily domestic water consumption from 1,5 kilolitres to 1,2 kilolitres a day (45 kilolitres and 36 kilolitres a month). Residents who use more than a daily average of 1,2 kilolitres are charged a maximum of N$12,17 per kilolitre instead of the usual N$6,61 a kilolitre. NamWater's Chief Hydrologist Andre Mostert said there are a few long-term options but that these "would come at a large price" for consumers. "We are looking at groundwater sources, but we would like to postpone that as late as possible because it will affect the [water] prices," he said. Du Pisani said the two institutions started investigating water banking four years ago. He said taking water from dams and storing it underground had been found to be technically and financially sound. "We can store surplus water and extract up to 75 per cent of Windhoek's water needs in time of short supply. But you have to replenish it," Du Pisani said. Windhoek residents are already barred from watering their gardens between 10h00 and 16h00 and from using hose pipes to wash vehicles. Anyone convicted of an offence faces a fine of N$2 000 or six months behind bars. |
|
||||
PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 236970 - Fax: +264 (61) 233980
|
