'Water shedding' begins in the north

The northern regions should brace for tough times in the next six weeks after the water utility announced that supply will be interrupted due to rehabilitation works at Angola's Calueque Dam.

The extensive weed growth and silt accumulation at the base of the Calueque-Oshakati canal is another factor affecting the performance of the supply system.

The first phase of rehabilitation, which included repairing one of the water-supply lines, was completed on Tuesday.

NamWater has now started repairing another crucial pipeline at Calueque. The N$5 million tender for the repairs was awarded to Natwe Engineering.

In the meantime, the local and regional authorities have been alerted about the looming water shortages.

NamWater is not sharing much on the issue and is denying the media access to their Calueque premises in southern Angola.

In a surprising turn, the water utility announced that the N$2.7 billion facilities that were rehabilitated by the Angolan government are not yet in operation due to power shortages.

NamWater's chief operating officer for business in northern Namibia, Kaliki Kambanda, noted in the statement to local and regional authorities that the water supply from the Calueque scheme in Angola started leaking profusely. One pump was taken out of operation, leaving only one to supply water.

“Communication was sent out to the media in this regard. From this intervention, it was expected that shortages may occur for which rationing would have to be implemented.

“However, to everyone's delight, the project at Calueque is about to be completed, without severe negative impacts to our customers,” Kambanda wrote.

“Meanwhile, additional factors of weed growth and silt accumulation at the bottom of the canal, and the consequent reduced carrying capacity during this increased demand season, has caused a negative balance in the availability of raw water at Oshakati production works.”

She said due to the circumstances, water rationing will be implemented from the evening of 15 January to 28 February. According to Kambanda, there will be no water supply between 22:00 and 05:00.

She said the objective is to build up reserves for daytime use and also to sustain the limited available water that is being produced.

“Should there be critical needs at essential service centres as hospitals and clinics, the authorities and responsible officers or managers are encouraged to contact NamWater for possible arrangement of delivery through water tankers to these respective institutions,” she said.



Calueque water scheme

In 2015 the Angolan government spent about N$2.7 billion to rehabilitate the Calueque Dam. That was completed at the beginning of 2016.

It was reported that the rehabilitation included the installation of three new water pumps and other state-of-the-art facilities to increase water supply to Namibia's northern regions as part of the 1964 Cunene River Scheme Agreement.

However, NamWater says the upgraded facilities are not yet in use as they don't have electricity. At the moment, the old facilities are being used.

NamPower did not provide comment on why the facility is not yet powered.

On Tuesday, NamWater managers visited Calueque, apparently to familiarise themselves with the situation. No reporters were allowed on the trip.

“The Calueque premises are jointly operated by NamWater, NamPower and the Angolan water utility of the Cunene Province. We have not informed them and it will not be appropriate for us to take you there,” Kambanda told Namibian Sun.

ILENI NANDJATO