Dam levels dismal
16 July 2019 | Disasters
It appears that the only town in Namibia which is safe from water restrictions is Keetmanshoop.
The latest dam bulletin, released by NamWater yesterday afternoon, paints a bleak picture. Most towns are by now relying on boreholes.
The central dams are on average 17.3% full. Von Bach is 41.2% full after having received water pumped from Swakoppoort, while Swakoppoort currently holds 11.2% of its capacity. Last year this time, Von Bach stood at 53.1% and Swakoppoort at 34.7%.
In the east, the picture is dismal with the Otjivero Main Dam currently at 2.6% of capacity, down from 8.4% last year. The Tilda Viljoen at Gobabis, which receives water from Otjivero, last year stood at 23.7% and now holds 2.5%. Its sister dam, Daan Viljoen, is at 1.2%, down from 19.1% last year.
The east's total water supply from dams stands at 1.5% of capacity. Hardap Dam is only 18.7% full, which is disastrous for the irrigation scheme there. At this time last year the dam was 42.8% full. The Oanob Dam outside Rehoboth is at 47.5%, compared to 64.9% last year. The ever-full Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop, fed by the ferocious Löwen River, is 86.3% full compared to 81.5% last year. The total dam level for the two southern regions is 33.4%.
YANNA SMITH
The latest dam bulletin, released by NamWater yesterday afternoon, paints a bleak picture. Most towns are by now relying on boreholes.
The central dams are on average 17.3% full. Von Bach is 41.2% full after having received water pumped from Swakoppoort, while Swakoppoort currently holds 11.2% of its capacity. Last year this time, Von Bach stood at 53.1% and Swakoppoort at 34.7%.
In the east, the picture is dismal with the Otjivero Main Dam currently at 2.6% of capacity, down from 8.4% last year. The Tilda Viljoen at Gobabis, which receives water from Otjivero, last year stood at 23.7% and now holds 2.5%. Its sister dam, Daan Viljoen, is at 1.2%, down from 19.1% last year.
The east's total water supply from dams stands at 1.5% of capacity. Hardap Dam is only 18.7% full, which is disastrous for the irrigation scheme there. At this time last year the dam was 42.8% full. The Oanob Dam outside Rehoboth is at 47.5%, compared to 64.9% last year. The ever-full Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop, fed by the ferocious Löwen River, is 86.3% full compared to 81.5% last year. The total dam level for the two southern regions is 33.4%.
YANNA SMITH
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