Namibia's water availability a major concern

The overall water supply situation is a major concern in many areas of the country due to poor rainfall this season.

According to the ‘Crop Prospects, Food Security and Drought Situation’ report issued by the agriculture ministry, most water catchment areas have therefore dried up as they did not receive water inflow.

"Since the start of the 2022–2023 rainfall season, the country has received below-normal rainfall performance, with a considerable delay in the onset. Most parts of the country only received productive rainfall in January."

Critical to fair

The report added that in addition to the sporadic and insufficient rainfall patterns that have dominated the season, the country reported severe and prolonged dry spells in December, February, March and April.

It said that the water supply situation in Otjozondjupa is generally fair, with boreholes as the main water source.

However, boreholes are drying up and also need to be rehabilitated in areas such as Otjongombe, Okamboro, and Okasuvandjiwo, the report said.

Furthermore, the water in the Ovitoto area has a high concentration of lime and poses a health hazard to livestock and people.

In the Erongo Region, the water situation remains critical, especially for the Utuseb, Omatjete, Otjimbingwe, Spitzkope, and Uis areas.

"Besides, most boreholes are broken, and the water supply is insufficient due to below-average rainfall received."

Broken and undrinkable

The report noted that in the Khomas Region, water supply is satisfactory, with earth dams being the main water sources.

Meanwhile, water availability in the Hardap and Karas regions is fair, but areas such as Snyfontein and Wambad in Karas have salty water that is not conducive for livestock or human consumption.

"As such, some villages are being served with water tankers, but the main concerns are that areas such as the Karasburg East constituency can go for weeks without water as there is only one water tanker that is serving the entire region."

According to the report, the Omaheke Region has a number of broken boreholes, especially in the northern side of the region (Eiseb, Talismanus, Otjinene and Epukiro) due to wear and tear especially, leaving both human and livestock with critical water shortages.

The water supply situation in the north-central regions, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana and Oshikoto varies from fair to poor.

"The floodwaters that were present in this area during January have completely dried up."

However, some areas have access to piped water and boreholes as alternative sources.

Major shortages

The report said that unfortunately, most earth dams are either completely dry or have minimal water that will not last until the next rainfall season.

"Constituencies such as Eengodi in the Oshikoto regions are faced with a major water shortage because of the low water pressure in the pipeline, and communities can go days and weeks with no clean water."

In the Kunene Region, no significant water supply interruptions were reported, apart from isolated cases of broken pumps, while the availability of water in the Zambezi, Kavango East and Kavango West regions is abundantly available in the rivers, streams, swamps, and boreholes in the inland.