Government’s N$40m water project tested on the ground

A N$40 million government-funded water softening project is bringing potable water to saline-affected communities, but officials warn that growing demand in regions like Oshikoto has already reshaped how the programme is being rolled out.

The project was under scrutiny on Monday during an oversight visit to Petrusfontein in the Kunene region, where the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) showcased one of 17 water softening sites developed countrywide.

EIF spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the interventions are rooted in Namibia’s long-standing struggle with water scarcity, particularly where underground water sources are plentiful but too saline for human use.

He said the organisation launched a pilot programme in 2022 to explore technologies capable of purifying underground water with high salinity.

The results prompted the agriculture and water ministry to allocate N$40 million to expand the initiative, now known as the Water Softening Project.

The project has been implemented in two phases. Phase one covered seven regions, including Kunene, Zambezi, Kavango East and West, Ohangwena and Oshikoto, while phase two focused exclusively on Oshikoto, where water supply pressures have intensified.

Muyunda said 17 sites have so far been developed, all using solar-powered systems to ensure operational sustainability. The Petrusfontein facility, completed during phase one, serves 25 households and treats previously unusable saline borehole water.

For residents like Else Ihuhua, the benefits are already visible. She said the community had endured years of water hardship and welcomed the project while urging government to respond faster when communities raise urgent needs.

Big need

Kunene South, according to agriculture ministry artisans foreman Carel Witbooi, remains dominated by saline water points. He said Petrusfontein had for years pleaded for intervention and was initially prioritised for a replacement borehole before being selected for the desalination pilot.

“Ever since this project came here, we can say the community’s plea has been answered,” Witbooi said.

However, he raised concerns around cost and scalability, questioning whether smaller and cheaper systems could be deployed to reach more settlements. “With the funds available, we might only do two projects next year, but the need is much bigger,” he said.

EIF environmental and social safeguards officer Sakeus Shilomboleni confirmed phase two focuses solely on Oshikoto, where most boreholes were found to be saline during the worsening water crisis.

He said contractors have been appointed to maintain the systems for three years while skills are transferred to ministry officials and community members.

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