Windhoek hailed for water recycling

WINDHOEK ELLANIE SMITWindhoek boasts with one of only two drinking water reclamation facilities in the world and continues to be hailed for its innovative and unconventional re-use of the scarce resource.The city has been recycling drinking water since 1968, when the old Goreangab Reclamation Plant went into operation.The only other plant is situated in Beaufort West, South Africa, and opened two years ago.The newly upgraded Goreangab Plant has a capacity of 21 000m&sup3; of water per day, which represents approximately 60% of the city's average daily water demand.The plant produces 16 000m&sup3; of water per day and at any given time, Windhoek's drinking water contains between 20% and 25% reclaimed water.The City of Windhoek also banks water for future use through the so-called &quot;recharging&quot; of its aquifer.According to Piet du Pisani, the Strategic Executive: Department of Infrastructure, Water, Technical Services at the City of Windhoek, the capital lies more or less in the centre of Namibia and has no natural water resources available, other than the underground water of the Windhoek Aquifer.This aquifer has a safe yield of 1,73 million cubic metres (Mm&sup3;) a year, whereas the current annual demand of Windhoek is 26 Mm&sup3;.However, during the 2012/13 rainy season absolutely no rainfall was received in the NamWater Three Dam System that supplies Windhoek with water.Had it not been for previous good rainy seasons, Windhoek would have suffered a severe shortage this year, said Du Pisani.Instead of leaving water in the NamWater surface dams, where it evaporates at a rate of 3,4 metres a year, the water is stored underground in the Windhoek Aquifer, in an initiative partnered with the municipality to artificially recharge the aquifer.This is being employed as medium-term solution for water supply to the central areas of Namibia and enables the city to survive for two to three years on groundwater during periods of drought.Windhoek is also constructing a third reclamation plant that will treat industrial effluent for use in the irrigation of gardens and sports fields. This plant was necessary because of Windhoek's growing population and increasing water demand.In just a few months, Namibia will host the ninth International Conference on Water Reuse. The International Water Association (IWA) has chosen Windhoek to host this conference, because of the city's long-standing expertise on reusing water for human consumption.One of the major reasons for the country being chosen to host the conference is the fact that the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant has been the pioneer of direct potable reuse.During a site visit to the Goreangab Plant last week, Windhoek Mayor Agnes Kafula said that cities in Africa and around the world will face severe water shortages with the effects of climate change, desertification and population growth which in turn will lead to conflict, deprivation and hunger.&quot;Reclamation of potable water or water for industry and irrigation from sewage effluent is an alternative for virtually every city on the continent. It is a solution that is increasingly viable for communities as the cost of cleaning and piping water increases,&quot; she said.She said that water reuse, especially in arid areas, is the answer to looming water shortages and will gain increasing prominence in the decades to come.She said that in the case of Windhoek, a multiple barrier approach has been adopted, which ensures that there are at least three barriers for contaminants that may cause health concerns.

Windhoek hailed for water recycling

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-02

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Windhoek hailed for water recycling

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Namibian Sun 2026-04-02

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