Water security still high on agenda
The main dams supplying water to central Namibia now hold enough water to last until the winter of 2019.
Water supply to Windhoek and the rest of central Namibia could be theoretically secured until 2020 subject to efficient water demand measures, a three-year model designed by NamWater experts indicates.
At a water forum meeting on water security for central Namibia, hosted by the Namibia Scientific Society last week, a NamWater presentation indicated that the central areas could have sufficient water to bridge three rainy seasons until April 2020 if the projected water demand can be achieved and a number of plans implemented.
The three-year plan is just theoretical at this stage, Namibian Sun was informed, and a number of requirements would have to be met to make it achievable.
The NamWater presentation looked at the current status of the water resources in the central areas, as well as short- and medium-term plans.
NamWater is embarking on a pre-feasibility study to assess 29 potential new water sources in order to bridge the period until a new major resource can be developed.
The Swakoppoort dam is currently at 45% of its capacity, compared to 7.2% last year this time.
The Von Bach dam is at 68.1% compared to 14.1% last year, the latest dam bulletin shows.
The average total of the three central area dams, including Omatako Dam, is currently 41.2% compared to 7.4% last year.
According to the proposed three-year water security plan, based on the worst-case scenario that excludes additional inflow into the dams until end April 2020, Von Bach Dam could be a viable source of water until May 2020, and Swakoppoort until April 2020.
NamWater has emphasised that the three-year model is dependent on a number of factors, including wise water use, planning, monitoring and teamwork between various agencies and cooperation by all water users.
One of these requirements is that plans for achieving full supply from the Berg Aukas and Kombat mines, and the Karst boreholes, must be in full swing by May 2018.
The plan is also designed around the Windhoek aquifer recharge goals and the extraction of water from boreholes in the same aquifer managed by the City of Windhoek.
Since the Windhoek Aquifer has not been subjected to the planned high rates for such a long period of time, some say this could be the weakest link in three-year model.
However, NamWater emphasised that there is a high level of confidence in the two -year water security model which was agreed to at the Central Area of Namibia (CAN) workshop which was attended by most of the stakeholders.
At present the estimated run-dry dates of the dams without inflow in the dams, according to the two-year model and based on current resources, are May 2019 for Von Bach and July 2019 for Swakoppoort.
Experts at the meeting added that water demand management would always be the highest priority on the agenda to contain the demand within reasonable limits.
JANA-MARI SMITH
At a water forum meeting on water security for central Namibia, hosted by the Namibia Scientific Society last week, a NamWater presentation indicated that the central areas could have sufficient water to bridge three rainy seasons until April 2020 if the projected water demand can be achieved and a number of plans implemented.
The three-year plan is just theoretical at this stage, Namibian Sun was informed, and a number of requirements would have to be met to make it achievable.
The NamWater presentation looked at the current status of the water resources in the central areas, as well as short- and medium-term plans.
NamWater is embarking on a pre-feasibility study to assess 29 potential new water sources in order to bridge the period until a new major resource can be developed.
The Swakoppoort dam is currently at 45% of its capacity, compared to 7.2% last year this time.
The Von Bach dam is at 68.1% compared to 14.1% last year, the latest dam bulletin shows.
The average total of the three central area dams, including Omatako Dam, is currently 41.2% compared to 7.4% last year.
According to the proposed three-year water security plan, based on the worst-case scenario that excludes additional inflow into the dams until end April 2020, Von Bach Dam could be a viable source of water until May 2020, and Swakoppoort until April 2020.
NamWater has emphasised that the three-year model is dependent on a number of factors, including wise water use, planning, monitoring and teamwork between various agencies and cooperation by all water users.
One of these requirements is that plans for achieving full supply from the Berg Aukas and Kombat mines, and the Karst boreholes, must be in full swing by May 2018.
The plan is also designed around the Windhoek aquifer recharge goals and the extraction of water from boreholes in the same aquifer managed by the City of Windhoek.
Since the Windhoek Aquifer has not been subjected to the planned high rates for such a long period of time, some say this could be the weakest link in three-year model.
However, NamWater emphasised that there is a high level of confidence in the two -year water security model which was agreed to at the Central Area of Namibia (CAN) workshop which was attended by most of the stakeholders.
At present the estimated run-dry dates of the dams without inflow in the dams, according to the two-year model and based on current resources, are May 2019 for Von Bach and July 2019 for Swakoppoort.
Experts at the meeting added that water demand management would always be the highest priority on the agenda to contain the demand within reasonable limits.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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