Northern regions without water
This year's efundja flood has dumped tons of sand into the canal supplying the north-central regions with water.
A serious water shortage is being experienced in the Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshana and Oshikoto regions after the seasonal efundja flood caused extensive damage to NamWater's infrastructure, resulting in water from the Calueque Dam not reaching the Oshakati treatment plant.
According to NamWater spokesman Johannes Shigwedha this year's flood is costing the water utility millions to clean and repair the affected facilities. About N$4 million has already been spent on the first phase of the work, and 1 000 casual workers have been employed.
Shigwedha said floodwater had filled the Calueque-Oshakati canal with sand, blocking the flow to the Oshakati treatment plant. He said this was a regular occurrence whenever there is efundja and this year the most damaged area was between Ogongo and Oshakati.
“Between Ogongo in Omusati Region and Oshakati in Oshana Region the canal is totally filled with sand. There are 22 siphons between Ogongo and Oshakati which are all blocked, meaning that water from Calueque cannot reach Oshakati. We are forced to outsource extra 1 000 employees to help us remove sand and repair the siphons,” Shigwedha said. Since there was no water getting to the plant in Oshakati NamWater had to clean the canal and get the water running first, before repairing the damage.
Shigwedha said the most seriously affected areas were Omuthiya, Omuntele, Eengodi and Okankolo, Omungwelume and other remote areas, where there was no water at all.
Areas such as Oshikuku, Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa are experiencing slow water flow, while in some areas water is only available at night. Eenhana, which gets water via the Oshakati-Omakango-Omafo line and also supplies water to people across the border in Angola, is not affected by this water crisis. According to Shigwedha, Eenhana was connected to boreholes recently.
Another supply line that is dry is the one that supplies water to the Eengodi and Okankolo constituencies through a rural water-supply network that stretches from Ondangwa to Iindangungu to Oshigambo, then Oshigambo to Onambutu, to Epembe and also includes Onambutu to Ondobe.
“We are expecting this work to be completed by tomorrow. As water reaches Oshakati we expect everything to go back to normal,” Shigwedha said.
According to NamWater spokesman Johannes Shigwedha this year's flood is costing the water utility millions to clean and repair the affected facilities. About N$4 million has already been spent on the first phase of the work, and 1 000 casual workers have been employed.
Shigwedha said floodwater had filled the Calueque-Oshakati canal with sand, blocking the flow to the Oshakati treatment plant. He said this was a regular occurrence whenever there is efundja and this year the most damaged area was between Ogongo and Oshakati.
“Between Ogongo in Omusati Region and Oshakati in Oshana Region the canal is totally filled with sand. There are 22 siphons between Ogongo and Oshakati which are all blocked, meaning that water from Calueque cannot reach Oshakati. We are forced to outsource extra 1 000 employees to help us remove sand and repair the siphons,” Shigwedha said. Since there was no water getting to the plant in Oshakati NamWater had to clean the canal and get the water running first, before repairing the damage.
Shigwedha said the most seriously affected areas were Omuthiya, Omuntele, Eengodi and Okankolo, Omungwelume and other remote areas, where there was no water at all.
Areas such as Oshikuku, Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa are experiencing slow water flow, while in some areas water is only available at night. Eenhana, which gets water via the Oshakati-Omakango-Omafo line and also supplies water to people across the border in Angola, is not affected by this water crisis. According to Shigwedha, Eenhana was connected to boreholes recently.
Another supply line that is dry is the one that supplies water to the Eengodi and Okankolo constituencies through a rural water-supply network that stretches from Ondangwa to Iindangungu to Oshigambo, then Oshigambo to Onambutu, to Epembe and also includes Onambutu to Ondobe.
“We are expecting this work to be completed by tomorrow. As water reaches Oshakati we expect everything to go back to normal,” Shigwedha said.
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