Residents in flood-prone areas urged to be vigilant

While dam levels continue to drop, the levels of perennial rivers in the north of Namibia are increasing and those living in flood-prone regions have been warned to take the necessary precautions.

The total average dam level has dropped to 57.8% compared to last season’s 70.8%.

In the central areas of Namibia, the average level of the dams is now a low 25.1%, while last season the level stood at 42.7%.

The Swakoppooort Dam is at 44.4% of its capacity, the Von Bach Dam is 13% full and the Omatako Dam is empty.

This three-dam system supplies Windhoek with water and the total average level of the these dams stands at 22.2%, compared to last season’s 39.9%.

Meanwhile, the Friedenhau Dam is 56.5% full and the Goreangab Dam is at 87.2%.

This is according to the weekly dam bulletin issued by NamWater.

Other dams

In the south, the average level of the dams stands at 65.3%, compared to last season’s 79.4%.

The Neckartal Dam, which is Namibia’s largest, is at 85.9% of its capacity. Last season, it was 93.2% full.

The level of the Hardap Dam near Mariental has dropped to a mere 17.3% and when it reaches about 6%, all raw water to its irrigation scheme will stop.

The Naute Dam is at 43.7% and the Oanob Dam 43.7% full.

The level of the Dreihuk Dam is at 0.2% and the Bondels Dam is empty.

In the east of the country, the total average of the dam levels is only 3.8%. Last season, this figure was 13.1%.

The Otjivero Main Dam is 5.2% full, the Tilda Viljoen Dam 15.2% and the Daan Viljoen Dam 8%.

In other parts of the country, the Olushandja Dam in the Oshana Region is 40.7% full, compared to last season’s 15.7%.

Both the Omaruru Delta Dam in Erongo and the Omatjenne Dam in Otjozondjupa are empty, the same as last season.

River levels

According to the flood bulletin issued by the Hydrological Services, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo recorded a level of 1.4 metres on Monday morning. The river level increased by 9cm since last Monday.

It added that the Kavango River continues to rise.

The water level at the Rundu Hydrological Station increased by 20cm over the weekend to 5.7m on Monday morning.

“The current water levels at Rundu are higher compared to the corresponding period last year.”

The Kunene River flow at Ruacana increased from 313.2 cubic metres per second yesterday to 326.06 this morning.

“Contingency planning for flood risk mitigation and recovery will be activated in flood-prone regions, and communities living in flood-prone areas must be vigilant and take precautionary measures.”