Nearly all of the dams monitored by the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) are currently storing substantially less water than a year ago.
NamWater yesterday reported in its weekly update on the state of Namibia’s main surface water reservoirs that the three dams from which the Windhoek and Okahandja areas receive water are currently filled to 29,6% of their combined capacity, with a total quantity of 45,7 million cubic metres of water, compared to a combined level of 49% (75,7 million cubic metres of water) a year ago.
The Hardap Dam near Mariental, which is an important source of water for irrigation, is currently storing about 86 million cubic metres of water, which is 29,3% of its capacity, compared to a level of 59% (174,2 million cubic metres) at the same time last year.
The Swakoppoort and Von Bach dams – the two main reservoirs holding water for the Windhoek and Okahandja areas – are currently filled to 57,3% and 19,7%, respectively, of their storage capacities. A year ago, Swakoppoort stood at 82% of its capacity and Von Bach at 45,5%.
The Omatako Dam, which is the third dam from which the central part of the country receives water, is empty at the moment. A year ago, Omatako’s level was at 4,8% of its storage capacity.
The City of Windhoek announced restrictions on the use of water four months ago. In terms of the restrictions, Windhoek residents may not water their gardens more than twice a week, should keep swimming pools covered and may not use hosepipes to wash cars.
The main dam levels reported by NamWater yesterday, with the dams’ readings at the corresponding time a year ago in
brackets, are:
Swakoppoort – 57,3% (82%)
Von Bach – 19,7% (45,5%)
Omatako – empty (4,8%)
Hardap – 29,3% (59%)
Neckartal – 89,6% (96,9%)
Naute – 55,9% (88,8%)
Oanob – 53,3% (73,8%)
Otjivero Main – 8% (27,4%)
Otjivero Silt – empty (1,9%)
Tilda Viljoen – 29,6% (49,2%)
Daan Viljoen – 4,4% (45,4%)
Olushandja – 42% (12,5%)
Friedenau – 63,6% (82,7%).