A POSSIBLE shortage of drinking water at Kalkfeld is likely to hit residents and their livestock very hard this year.
The Namibia Water Corporation supply area manager for Otjiwarongo district, George Diergaardt told Nampa on Tuesday it is a fact that very little rainfall was received this year in the Otjozondjupa region and therefore, water related troubles can be expected.
Diergaardt was reacting to concerns in Kalkfeld that the underground water sources in the area were nearing depletion.
Kalkfeld settlement is situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa region.
The settlement has a population close to 2 000 people.
Diergaardt said the possibility of some boreholes at Kalkfeld running dry is high because little rainfall was received this year in the area, making it likely for the underground water level to drop by mid-year.
“In 2010 we experienced a shortage of underground water at Kalkfeld after little rainfall was received. It is likely to be the same this year,” Diergaardt said.
He said Kalkfeld has six boreholes supplying water for domestic use, out of which three are not operating due to the suspected high concentration of iron in the water.
Diergaardt said the three boreholes currently supplying water to residents have not received enough rainwater, while the earth-dam that is well known for replenishing these three boreholes is already dry, triggering fears amongst the community.
Diergaardt hopes that some boreholes will not dry out until the drought situation stabilises.
He said NamWater is aware of the shortage of drinking water at Kalkfeld, adding that the corporation has been looking for alternative water sources for the area.
The Otjozondjupa governor, Otto Ipinge, on Tuesday made a familiarisation tour around Kalkfeld to inspect developments on some government projects.
He told this agency that the possible shortage of water at Kalkfeld is of great concern to him and the settlement office.
He suggested that a major project that would draw water from Otjiwarongo or Omaruru must be implemented as soon as possible, in order to supply water to Kalkfeld residents.
Accopmanying Ipinge was the newly appointed Otjozondjupa regional council chairperson, Steve Biko Boois and constituency councillors for Tsumkwe and Grootfontein, and members of the Kalkfeld Community Development Committee (CDC).
