Farmers urged to register all boreholes

All farmers and property owners who have drilled boreholes on their properties must register them with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform.

According to the latest issue of the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) newsletter, this is in line with the Water Resources Management Act, that came into effect on 29 August 2023.

“This act prescribes that all boreholes must be registered within a certain timespan – 18 months from inception,” the union said.

The act ensures that Namibian water resources are managed, developed, used and protected for all people to have access to safe drinking water.

The state, as the custodian of all water resources of Namibia, has the responsibility to ensure aquifers, from which boreholes are fed, are managed and used to the benefit of all the people.

According to recent media reports, the town of Omaruru faces a water crisis because its 12 boreholes cannot supply enough water for its 10 000 residents, with some people accusing farmers upstream of illegally damming the Omaruru River as well as sinking illegal boreholes.

All the town’s water is abstracted from the Omaruru River through boreholes.

“The current water infrastructure, designed for about 4 000 residents, is no longer capable to supply our population, which was put at around 10 000 by the latest census. We urgently need to enhance our water capacity,” mayor Vincent Kahuua says.

NAU says it has repeatedly made follow-ups with the ministry to ensure its members are provided the correct information.

“The first round of discussions have confirmed that all boreholes must be registered – this includes boreholes in use, not in use and dry ones,” says the newsletter.

All boreholes draw from groundwater reservoirs.

The farmers’ union added that if a landowner can confirm that a borehole was registered with the department, there is no need to apply for re-registration.

The union advised farmers to contact the ministry on 061 208 7148 / 7126 to obtain the registration number of a particular registered borehole, if they do not have the number.

“Provide as much information as requested on the borehole data collection sheet.

“If you previously applied for a borehole drilling permit and were issued with a borehole registration number, but did not provide all required information to the department, the borehole may have a completion report and a water warrant number, but will not have been registered on the ministry’s database, due to a lack of data,” says NAU.

Over the past century, more than 100 000 boreholes in Namibia have been drilled to draw groundwater for industrial, municipal and rural water supply. They provide drinking water to man, livestock and game, irrigation water for crop production, industries and mines.

The Chamber of Mines recently complained that the shortage of water was negatively impacting the operations of its members.

To ease the situation, Cabinet recently approved the construction of a second desalination plant at the coast, starting in January 2025 and to be completed by 2027.

– email: matthew@namibian.com.na