Communities in dire need of water

Several areas have been identified as “hot spots” where communities are suffering from chronic water shortages and emergency water assistance is required. Agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb says the ministry continues to conduct surveys to identify places that are in dire need of water assistance. Areas identified as hot spots are characterised by poor groundwater quality and boreholes that are drying up because of a lack of rain. Otjimbinde constituency and the Omuramba community in the Omaheke Region are among these hot spots. !Naruseb says communities in the Otjombinde constituency, which has a population of about 7 000 people, urgently need water. The ministry is conducting a feasibility study before drilling additional boreholes and extending the existing pipeline network there. As for the Omuramba community in the Eiseb constituency, sites for boreholes have been chosen and drilling will start immediately. The Daures constituency in the Erongo Region was also identified as a hot spot. According to !Naruseb this area is desperate for water because of very poor groundwater quality and poor recharge of the aquifer. “The only long-term solution is to supply water from elsewhere, which is very costly, but must be done.” In the Epembe and Oshikunde constituencies of the Ohangwena Region, the available water has become unfit for consumption because of high levels of fluoride and other minerals. “Apart from limited conventional water points in the area, the traditional water points have become either obsolete or have seriously poor quality water,” !Naruseb says. Some communities in these constituencies have to walk long distances to find water. According to the minister the solution is to drill boreholes in areas with good water quality and pipe it to the areas with poor water quality.Bids for the drilling of boreholes in these two areas will be invited soon. “This response will be short-term water supply assistance, while studies are under way to find a long-term solution including the utilisation of the Ohangwena Two aquifer with the availability of funds,” says !Naruseb. ELLANIE SMIT

Communities in dire need of water

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-29

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Communities in dire need of water

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Namibian Sun 2026-07-29

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