Fire trucks deliver relief as Khorixas faces severe water shortages

Many Khorixas residents were forced to collect water between late Wednesday night and Thursday morning last week after supply disruptions left parts of the town dry.

Fire brigade trucks delivered emergency water to the areas affected.

By Friday, residents said the disruptions were still unresolved.

The hardest-hit areas included the new Ada //Naugu settlement and Build Together houses, where taps ran dry or only produced water after midnight.

Community members said a damaged pipe during sewage works had worsened the situation, leaving households reliant on trucked water.

“The situation is very dire,” a long-time resident told Namibian Sun.

“Most houses do not even get water, and then we wait for the truck to return late, late,” she added. She further described the daily struggle: “We have no electricity, no water. Snakes constantly come into our houses because it’s dark, and we have to fend them off.”

Local economic development and communications officer at the Khorixas Town Council, Simson Ochurub, last week reassured residents that the measures are temporary. “It is not a permanent thing, and we will communicate progress,” he said.

Photos show residents queuing with buckets and containers into the early morning hours last week to fetch water for their households.

Many families rely entirely on fire brigade trucks, queuing for hours to fill containers.

Authorities have urged residents to use water sparingly until full restoration of the water supply while repairs to damaged pipelines continue.

The council also encouraged households to report broken pipes and other issues to ensure faster responses.

The situation has raised concerns over safety, particularly in areas without electricity, leaving residents vulnerable to snakes and other hazards during the night. Community members are calling for urgent interventions to restore a stable water supply.