The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) has assured residents of Okahandja that their tap water remains safe for consumption, despite recent public complaints regarding an unusual taste and odour.
NamWater in a statement released on Friday said the strange smell and taste stem from seasonal changes in the Von Bach Dam.
“These include natural dam turnover caused by temperature changes within the water column, which increases the level of organic compounds responsible for the bad taste and odour,” the statement noted.
In response, NamWater noted that it has implemented several corrective measures to improve the quality of the treated water.
“These include improving agitation of the Powdered Activated Carbon tanks for better dosing, adjusting the abstraction level from deeper to shallower levels, improving aeration at the treatment plant, optimising chemical dosing through jar testing, cleaning the reservoir and increasing the frequency of water quality monitoring,” noted the statement.
According to NamWater, based on current monitoring results, the treated water remains safe for human consumption.
“[The water] continues to be closely monitored against chemical and microbiological water quality requirements,” the statement read.
NamWater said it remains fully committed to providing safe, reliable and good-quality water in compliance with the Water Resources Management Act and applicable water quality standards.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and work constructively with the municipality to address any concerns and ensure that the water supplied to the residents of Okahandja meets the required standard.”
