Water supply to coast still assured

Water supply to coastal towns and mines remains secure despite the fact that the Omdel aquifer hasn’t been replenished in close to five years, since the last time the Omaruru River flowed into the Omdel Dam.
However, a steep increase in the water demand from coastal towns, as a result of a population boom in the region, is increasingly putting pressure on the water resource.
Over the past two years, demand for water from the Omdel aquifer rose by 10% and 6%, compared to an average annual increase of roughly 3%, a reliable source said this week.
According to experts working closely with water supply in Namibia, the Omdel aquifer remains stable and there is no reason for worry at this stage.
Nevertheless, the source warned that overall the lack of water flow into the aquifer over the past half-decade was “logically, not a very good situation”.
The expert, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said NamWater had kept a close eye on the situation for many years, and the current situation could be described as “no worse than was expected. There have been no surprises.”
It was reported last year that due to the lack of inflow from the Omaruru River into the Omdel Dam, from where water is pumped to filtration dams that recharge the aquifer, NamWater took steps to reduce water supply from the Omdel aquifer to clients by roughly 4 million cubic metres about three years ago.
The water supplied to towns and mines along the central coast is extracted from three main sources: the Omdel aquifer, the Kuiseb aquifer and the Areva desalination plant.
The supply to the mines, Swakopmund and Arandis consists of a mix of groundwater and desalinated water, the source explained.
Walvis Bay’s water supply stems from the Kuiseb aquifer, which according to experts is in a good condition, and Henties Bay is supplied solely with water from the Omdel aquifer.
Nevertheless, authorities are keeping a close eye on the central coastal water supply system, which has to cope with a growing
demand.
“One has to accept that demand at the coast is increasing. Especially household demand is growing. They use more than the groundwater resources can supply,” the source said.
Desalinated water, which is mixed with groundwater, has made up for the shortfall so far.
Moving inland, the latest dam bulletin shows the Swakoppoort Dam is at 11%, the Von Bach Dam level stands at 22.4% and the Omatako Dam now stands at 4.4%.
JANA-MARI SMITH