Water woes not yet over, cautions NamWater

NAMIBIA’S bulk water supplier, NamWater, says despite good rains so far this year, dams have not yet received enough inflow to last for two rainy seasons – for example from this year until May 2008.

“The amount of inflow which we have received so far into our dams is 85 per cent of what is needed. So, we still need to receive the same run-off to be able to bridge the two rainy seasons,” says NamWater’s report on the water situation in the country.It says NamWater plans two rainy seasons ahead so that it can make provision for drought years, when storage dams receive no inflow.The report says central Namibia is the most critical part of the country because most economic activities are concentrated there and any serious disruption in the supply of water can have a devastating effect on the country.Most of the water used in Windhoek comes from the Von Bach, Swakoppoort and Omatako dams.NamWater’s latest dam bulletin put the level of the Von Bach dam at 77 per cent.According to NamWater, the central area now has enough water to last until February 2008 if there is no further inflow into dams.”Windhoek boreholes can also be utilised as emergency sources.These boreholes supply about 4 million cubic metres of water per year.Their use will extend the water available by only one month,” said NamWater.At the coast – which is mainly supplied by the Kuiseb and Omdel aquifers, NamWater says there is enough water to be extracted for the next 10 years.About 16 boreholes are being drilled in the Omdel aquifer to meet the demand of the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine and other new customers.In the South, the situation is fine, says NamWater.The Naute Dam outside Keetmanshoop, at 100,3 per cent, has enough water to last until 2009.The Hardap Dam near Mariental is 84,5 per cent full – just one month short of two seasons’ supply – while the Oanob and Friedenau dams have enough water until 2008 if no further inflows are received.Gobabis is another matter, however.The levels of the town’s Daan Viljoen, Tilda Viljoen and Otjivero dams are alarmingly low.Luckily, the town has plentiful groundwater sources, which can be tapped if surface water becomes unavailable.The North is secure in terms of surface water, which is obtained from the Zambezi, Kunene and Kavango rivers.The level of the Kavango currently stands at 4,48 metres.So, we still need to receive the same run-off to be able to bridge the two rainy seasons,” says NamWater’s report on the water situation in the country.It says NamWater plans two rainy seasons ahead so that it can make provision for drought years, when storage dams receive no inflow.The report says central Namibia is the most critical part of the country because most economic activities are concentrated there and any serious disruption in the supply of water can have a devastating effect on the country.Most of the water used in Windhoek comes from the Von Bach, Swakoppoort and Omatako dams.NamWater’s latest dam bulletin put the level of the Von Bach dam at 77 per cent.According to NamWater, the central area now has enough water to last until February 2008 if there is no further inflow into dams.”Windhoek boreholes can also be utilised as emergency sources.These boreholes supply about 4 million cubic metres of water per year.Their use will extend the water available by only one month,” said NamWater.At the coast – which is mainly supplied by the Kuiseb and Omdel aquifers, NamWater says there is enough water to be extracted for the next 10 years.About 16 boreholes are being drilled in the Omdel aquifer to meet the demand of the Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine and other new customers.In the South, the situation is fine, says NamWater.The Naute Dam outside Keetmanshoop, at 100,3 per cent, has enough water to last until 2009.The Hardap Dam near Mariental is 84,5 per cent full – just one month short of two seasons’ supply – while the Oanob and Friedenau dams have enough water until 2008 if no further inflows are received.Gobabis is another matter, however.The levels of the town’s Daan Viljoen, Tilda Viljoen and Otjivero dams are alarmingly low.Luckily, the town has plentiful groundwater sources, which can be tapped if surface water becomes unavailable.The North is secure in terms of surface water, which is obtained from the Zambezi, Kunene and Kavango rivers.The level of the Kavango currently stands at 4,48 metres.