Thousands at Rundu without water
19 March 2020 | Disasters
At a time when all citizens are urged to wash their hands and take their hygiene extra seriously to avoid contracting the coronavirus, thousands of people at Rundu have been without water since Monday.
Residents are now left with no option but to buy bottled water or use river water. According to the Rundu town council's acting CEO, Sam Nekaro, the water interruption is a result of a NamWater pipe burst that occurred on Monday.
Nine residential areas are affected, including the ever-expanding informal settlements where thousands of people live.
“There is a water supply interruption due to a NamWater pipe burst along Josef Mise Haingura Street since Monday, 16 March 2020,” Nekaro said.
“The pipe supplies the Nkarapamwe treatment scheme, therefore areas such as Kehemu, Ndama, Kaisosi, Safari, Sikanduko, Tuhingireni, Nkarapamwe, Millenium, Kingspark and the eastern part of the business area are experiencing low water pressure or no water at all.” Nekaro said in the meantime NamWater will be distributing water to the affected areas. It is unclear when the normal water supply will be restored.
A number of residents yesterday expressed disappointment that the council had not informed them immediately.
They questioned whether the council was taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
Some indicated that they had not taken a bath since Monday. “Water has been closed since Monday and we were not told anything. We are facing a difficult time as there is a coronavirus out there and we are with our children at home, yet only air is coming from our taps. Council needs to take the matter seriously. Water is life,” a resident from Ndama said. Following the two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Namibia, President Hage Geingob on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and all citizens should take steps to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.
KENYA KAMBOWE
Residents are now left with no option but to buy bottled water or use river water. According to the Rundu town council's acting CEO, Sam Nekaro, the water interruption is a result of a NamWater pipe burst that occurred on Monday.
Nine residential areas are affected, including the ever-expanding informal settlements where thousands of people live.
“There is a water supply interruption due to a NamWater pipe burst along Josef Mise Haingura Street since Monday, 16 March 2020,” Nekaro said.
“The pipe supplies the Nkarapamwe treatment scheme, therefore areas such as Kehemu, Ndama, Kaisosi, Safari, Sikanduko, Tuhingireni, Nkarapamwe, Millenium, Kingspark and the eastern part of the business area are experiencing low water pressure or no water at all.” Nekaro said in the meantime NamWater will be distributing water to the affected areas. It is unclear when the normal water supply will be restored.
A number of residents yesterday expressed disappointment that the council had not informed them immediately.
They questioned whether the council was taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
Some indicated that they had not taken a bath since Monday. “Water has been closed since Monday and we were not told anything. We are facing a difficult time as there is a coronavirus out there and we are with our children at home, yet only air is coming from our taps. Council needs to take the matter seriously. Water is life,” a resident from Ndama said. Following the two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Namibia, President Hage Geingob on Tuesday declared a state of emergency and all citizens should take steps to avoid contracting and spreading the virus.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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