Rundu water cuts not over yet

DESPITE the launch of the construction of a new water treatment plant in Rundu, water cuts to the town will not stop if the Rundu Town Council does not settle its outstanding debt with NamWater, the water utility’s chief executive officer Abraham Nehemia has said.

Talking to the media after the launch of the project last week, Nehemia said the Rundu Town Council’s debt is a result of the product that NamWater has been supplying to the town. He added that whatever water that is supplied to a client must be paid for.

The N$500 million purification plant project would include raw water extraction, a convegancing system, upgrading of existing infrastructure, and decommissioning of redundant infrastructure.

Nehemia said NamWater operates on the principle of full cost recovery. So, whatever product NamWater supplies to a client must be paid for, and Rundu’s outstanding debt still needs to be paid. He stressed that the water utility engaged the management of the town to find solutions to the town’s debt problem, illegal water connections, billing, and the replacement of ageing water infrastructure.

“We also met with their finance and technical department to look at how they do their billing and collections, as well as town planning aspects, to help them before the water treatment plant is operational,” said Nehemia.

Asked if residents can still expect water cuts if the council does not settle its debt, Nehemia said NamWater wants its money.

“We have recently engaged all the stakeholders and we went to Cabinet and the committee on treasury. We have been discussing this with the minister to see how this can be handled,” he said.

Over the years, the Rundu Town Council has been experiencing water crises, with NamWater debts surpassing N$125 million, while the residents owe the council close to N$500 million in unpaid water bills.

Last year, Rundu’s chief executive officer Olavi Nathanael explained to the media that the increase in the debt resulted from the council being placed on the conventional water system when the Covid-19 pandemic was declared – as opposed to pre-paid water meters – which resulted in low revenue collection.

To raise money, council roped in a debt collecting company, Red Force Debt Management, which has recovered closed to N$30 million, and part of that amount will be used to service NamWater’s debt.

Minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein, at the launch, also said one prerequisite to ensure water supply is regular payment of bills.

“It is that contribution that you make that enables us to continue with water delivery… We have to appreciate the fact that these services need to be sustained by the administration of the system and by the financial obligation of the citizens,” said the minister.

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