New industries increase water demand

National water demand in Namibia is expected to reach 538 million cubic metres per year, nearly doubling from the estimated 334 million cubic metres in 2015.According to agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein, this demand is projected to reach 772 million cubic metres per year by 2030.Schlettwein&#039;s speech was read on his behalf at the National Workshop on Water Security and Climate Change for Namibia, which was opened this week by deputy executive director Eliah Ngurare.Schlettwein said good planning and engineering are vital to ensuring increased water supply, but they alone cannot guarantee assured access to additional water.“Demand for water will continue to increase as new industries come to the fore.”He said that these include the development of the mines and energy sector, such as oil and gas discoveries, and the development of emerging green hydrogen projects.“It is a well-known fact that water is an input in economic activities, and no sector can develop without water.”Weather patterns shift Schlettwein said based on available records, the frequency of droughts and floods has increased by 18% on average in the last four decades globally.He said in recent years, Namibia has experienced an increase in natural disasters.According to him, records show there is a strong relationship between increases in water-related disasters and global warming, which is the key contributor to climate change.“Scientific evidence shows that Namibia is becoming hotter: surface temperatures have risen by 1.2 degrees Celsius over the last 100 years. The frequency of extreme temperatures has increased by 10% over the last four decades.”He said climate change is causing rising temperatures and increased rainfall variability in Africa, which is already impacting the availability of water resources.The minister said in many areas, surface water resources, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and pollution, are declining and becoming increasingly unpredictable.“Evidence of climate change includes the later onset or early termination of rainy seasons, thus shortening the growing seasons for crop producers and reducing run-off into the dams, therefore affecting water availability for all uses.”Act now He noted that “overall business and the economy are already feeling the impacts, but the most vulnerable are the communities whose livelihoods are based on natural resources, such as subsistence agriculture.”He said it is imperative to develop strategies and plans for climate change adaptation. This includes strengthening early warning systems for droughts and floods and promoting climate-resilient agriculture, green economies and land-use practices.He said Namibia has to manage the increasing pressure on its freshwater resources.Schlettwein emphasised that the country is still faced with challenges of deteriorating water quality, deteriorating water infrastructure, limited technological capacity, fragmented investment in the water sector, and delayed implementation of the relevant water policies and strategies.According to him, sustainable and long-term access to water resources requires adaptation options such as the promotion of efficient water harvesting techniques, recycling, re-use, and reclamation of wastewater, the development of seawater desalination technologies, and artificial aquifer recharge to increase water supply and promote and encourage integrated water resources management.

New industries increase water demand

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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New industries increase water demand

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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