Aquifer critical for thirsty north

President Hage Geingob declared 2018 as a 'year of reckoning', and in light of this Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa has urged the agriculture ministry, along with NamWater, to ensure the Kalahari Ohangwena Aquifer (KOH-2) is fully explored and implemented. The aquifer reportedly contains an estimated 20 billion cubic metres of water and the region requires adequate sustenance for human and animal consumption, as well for agriculture.Nghaamwa expressed his concern over the slow progress on the aquifer after research started in 2009, during his State of the Region Address (SORA) this week. He said his region is experiencing a serious water crisis that forced him to equip eight extra boreholes for rural communities.Last year, Nghaamwa's office equipped the boreholes to supply communities that have to travel long distances for potable water. The governor said four boreholes were drilled and equipped with pumps at the Okanyandi and Omundaungilo satellite police stations, the Eembahu Rural Development Centre and Embwanyana village, while a new water pump station was installed at Omafo to increase water pressure to Eenhana.In an interview with Namibian Sun, Ohangwena chief regional officer Fillipus Shilongo said the aquifer does not benefit the region at the moment and many people are still living without water. Shilongo said the region is also currently not allowed to abstract water from the aquifer.“The KOH-2 aquifer, which contains freshwater is situated about 300 metres deep, below the KOH-1 aquifer, which contains salty water. The region is faced with a serious water crisis, but we are only allowed to drill up to the KOH-1 aquifer and this water is not fit for human consumption,” Shilongo said.He said only one borehole at Omundaungilo currently extracts water from KOH-2. However, it is only a limited volume of water a day.Nghaamwa last year equipped eight boreholes to the tune of N$714 000, which was donated to his office by the Sea Flower fishing company. The eight boreholes were among the 104 boreholes the agriculture ministry, in conjunction with the prime minister's office, drilled in 2013. There were 25 in Zambezi, 14 in Kavango East, 17 in Kavango West, 16 in Ohangwena, 21 in Kunene and 11 in Omaheke.These boreholes formed part of the South African government's N$100 million donation to Namibia in 2013. According to the South African High Commission, Rand Water, the largest water utility in South Africa and supplier of water to Gauteng, has been mandated to rehabilitate of these boreholes.All these boreholes are taking water from the KOH-1 aquifer and the region is still looking to the agriculture ministry to complete its studies, so that the region can fully benefit from the aquifer.The Kalahari Ohangwena Aquifer steering committee, at a meeting that was held at Eenhana, dispelled rumours that the aquifer has the capacity to supply water to northern Namibia for 400 years, but confirmed it contains an estimated 20 billion cubic metres of water.The committee reported the water in the area between Oshikango and Eenhana is high in fluoride, while water between Eenhana and Okongo contains less fluoride. Between Omundaungilo and Okongo, a fresh water table was found.Since 2009, up to 21 observation, production and monitoring boreholes have been drilled, but not all of them were successful. The NamWater production borehole at Eenhana fell in, in 2014 and was replaced.NamWater and the ministry are supervising the project with technical support from Germany, while the European Union has provided funding of approximately N$25 million. The meeting indicated the study is expected to be completed by September. ILENI NANDJATO

Aquifer critical for thirsty north

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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Aquifer critical for thirsty north

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-07

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