Rundu’s water crisis prompts 21 borehole solution
A decade-long gap in upgrading the town’s water infrastructure forced the Rundu Town Council to turn to boreholes to meet the growing demand, chief executive officer (CEO) Olavi Nathanael has said.
Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Nathanael explained that the current water challenges can be traced back to a plant designed with capacity projections that only stretched to 2017.
“They were supposed to upgrade it then, because projections already showed that population growth would surpass supply. That was overlooked, and the population kept growing,” he said.
Imbalance
According to the council’s 2023 annual report, water demand in the town stands at about 1 200 cubic metres per hour, compared to just 800 cubic metres supplied at the time – of which 39% was lost through leakages and other inefficiencies.
“The demand is way, way too much, and the supply was way, way too low,” Nathanael said.
Faced with this imbalance, the council approached the agriculture ministry to help secure additional supplies through boreholes.
Hydrologists were dispatched to identify suitable sites, and their report recommended 21 boreholes.
However, the ministry was unable to provide funding.
The turning point came in late 2023 when the Ndama Siwa water shortage made national headlines.
“The urban development ministry came to the ground and instructed that boreholes and a pump station be built to solve the Ndama issue. That’s how funding was made available,” Nathanael noted.
Maximising access
The boreholes were strategically placed across Rundu’s expanding residential areas. Three were sunk in the residential area of the Mass Housing scheme in Sunshine, near an existing but unused elevated water tower.
Another was placed at the Donkerhoek tower, next to Rudolf Ngondo School, while four were drilled at Ndama South School, a facility inaugurated during the Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare\'s visit last week.
In Tuhingireni, four boreholes were positioned between two newly built schools, including Guru Guru, to serve both communities.
Skanduko also received four boreholes, located between schools, to maximise access.
“All the boreholes are graded at class B, meaning they are fit for human consumption. Tests and lab work were completed. The upper area of Rundu doesn’t have salty water – it’s only the flat plains on the northern side where salinity is an issue,” Nathanael assured.
Behind schedule
Meanwhile, a long-term solution is underway with the construction of a new water treatment plant at Rundu Beach, which has a supply capacity of 1 800 cubic metres per hour. The facility, currently behind schedule, is expected to be completed by 2026 or 2027 and has a projected lifespan up to 2037.
Trenches are already being dug to link the plant to communities as far as Kayangona to the east, Mpini to the west and Masili to the south. “Once completed, this plant will stabilise supply, but for now the boreholes remain essential to keep the taps running,” Nathanael said.
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Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Nathanael explained that the current water challenges can be traced back to a plant designed with capacity projections that only stretched to 2017.
“They were supposed to upgrade it then, because projections already showed that population growth would surpass supply. That was overlooked, and the population kept growing,” he said.
Imbalance
According to the council’s 2023 annual report, water demand in the town stands at about 1 200 cubic metres per hour, compared to just 800 cubic metres supplied at the time – of which 39% was lost through leakages and other inefficiencies.
“The demand is way, way too much, and the supply was way, way too low,” Nathanael said.
Faced with this imbalance, the council approached the agriculture ministry to help secure additional supplies through boreholes.
Hydrologists were dispatched to identify suitable sites, and their report recommended 21 boreholes.
However, the ministry was unable to provide funding.
The turning point came in late 2023 when the Ndama Siwa water shortage made national headlines.
“The urban development ministry came to the ground and instructed that boreholes and a pump station be built to solve the Ndama issue. That’s how funding was made available,” Nathanael noted.
Maximising access
The boreholes were strategically placed across Rundu’s expanding residential areas. Three were sunk in the residential area of the Mass Housing scheme in Sunshine, near an existing but unused elevated water tower.
Another was placed at the Donkerhoek tower, next to Rudolf Ngondo School, while four were drilled at Ndama South School, a facility inaugurated during the Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare\'s visit last week.
In Tuhingireni, four boreholes were positioned between two newly built schools, including Guru Guru, to serve both communities.
Skanduko also received four boreholes, located between schools, to maximise access.
“All the boreholes are graded at class B, meaning they are fit for human consumption. Tests and lab work were completed. The upper area of Rundu doesn’t have salty water – it’s only the flat plains on the northern side where salinity is an issue,” Nathanael assured.
Behind schedule
Meanwhile, a long-term solution is underway with the construction of a new water treatment plant at Rundu Beach, which has a supply capacity of 1 800 cubic metres per hour. The facility, currently behind schedule, is expected to be completed by 2026 or 2027 and has a projected lifespan up to 2037.
Trenches are already being dug to link the plant to communities as far as Kayangona to the east, Mpini to the west and Masili to the south. “Once completed, this plant will stabilise supply, but for now the boreholes remain essential to keep the taps running,” Nathanael said.
[email protected]
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