Relief as dams receive water
Widespread rain has brought good inflows to many dams in the country but Windhoek's water supply is still critical.
Although the Neckartal Dam in southern Namibia is still under construction it received its first inflow last week when massive amounts of water flowed in from the Fish River.
Workers at the construction site have been warned to remain alert, as the river level at Tses was high and more water was expected to reach Neckartal.
Some places in Namibia received more than 100mm of rain at the weekend and some rivers were in flood.
More than 22 million cubic metres water flowed into storage dams during the past week.
To put this in perspective, Windhoek uses about 23 million cubic metres of water a year.
According to the weekly Namwater dam bulletin, six dams recorded inflows.
The Hardap Dam had the lion's share of 16.8 million cubic metres. The dam is now 35.4% full – the same level as a year ago.
The Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop received 3.7 million cubic metres of water and is now 75.2% full, in comparison to last year when it was 70.8% full.
Rehoboth's Oanob Dam rose to 28.3% after receiving 1.144 million cubic metres. Last year the dam was 38.1% full.
In central Namibia the Von Bach Dam received an inflow of 1.7 million cubic metres. The dam is now 15.5% full in comparison to the 21.9% of last year.
In total the dams in the central area are now 7.4% full and the water situation remains critical.
The Otjivero Silt Dam in the Omaheke Region received 0.006 million cubic metres of water and the Olushandja Dam 0.413 million cubic metres.
Downpours of 125mm within 12 hours were reported at Tsumeb on Friday.
On Saturday, Raaswater near Omaruru recorded 40mm. The Omaruru River has been in flood since last week, which has always been a good indicator of above-average rainfall
About 30km outside of Swakopmund 40mm was reported and in the Gochas area between 20mm and 45mm was recorded.
On Sunday 42mm was reported at Okahandja, 30mm at Kalkfeld, and 51mm at Omitara in the Omaheke Region.
At the farm Omatako 32mm was reported and on a farm near the Duwisib Castle west of Maltahöhe, 26mm was recorded.
On the farm Nutusdrift near Maltahöhe 31mm was measured, while 55mm fell at Heuwelsrus farm near the Omatakos.
In the Summerdown area of the Omaheke Region the farm Okarapiko received 60mm over two days, while Stampriet in the south received 22mm.
ELLANIE SMIT
Workers at the construction site have been warned to remain alert, as the river level at Tses was high and more water was expected to reach Neckartal.
Some places in Namibia received more than 100mm of rain at the weekend and some rivers were in flood.
More than 22 million cubic metres water flowed into storage dams during the past week.
To put this in perspective, Windhoek uses about 23 million cubic metres of water a year.
According to the weekly Namwater dam bulletin, six dams recorded inflows.
The Hardap Dam had the lion's share of 16.8 million cubic metres. The dam is now 35.4% full – the same level as a year ago.
The Naute Dam near Keetmanshoop received 3.7 million cubic metres of water and is now 75.2% full, in comparison to last year when it was 70.8% full.
Rehoboth's Oanob Dam rose to 28.3% after receiving 1.144 million cubic metres. Last year the dam was 38.1% full.
In central Namibia the Von Bach Dam received an inflow of 1.7 million cubic metres. The dam is now 15.5% full in comparison to the 21.9% of last year.
In total the dams in the central area are now 7.4% full and the water situation remains critical.
The Otjivero Silt Dam in the Omaheke Region received 0.006 million cubic metres of water and the Olushandja Dam 0.413 million cubic metres.
Downpours of 125mm within 12 hours were reported at Tsumeb on Friday.
On Saturday, Raaswater near Omaruru recorded 40mm. The Omaruru River has been in flood since last week, which has always been a good indicator of above-average rainfall
About 30km outside of Swakopmund 40mm was reported and in the Gochas area between 20mm and 45mm was recorded.
On Sunday 42mm was reported at Okahandja, 30mm at Kalkfeld, and 51mm at Omitara in the Omaheke Region.
At the farm Omatako 32mm was reported and on a farm near the Duwisib Castle west of Maltahöhe, 26mm was recorded.
On the farm Nutusdrift near Maltahöhe 31mm was measured, while 55mm fell at Heuwelsrus farm near the Omatakos.
In the Summerdown area of the Omaheke Region the farm Okarapiko received 60mm over two days, while Stampriet in the south received 22mm.
ELLANIE SMIT
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