Erongo confronts deepening water crisis with forum relaunch

Stakeholders across government, industry and local authorities have recommitted to addressing water security in the Erongo region following the relaunch of the Erongo Water Forum in Swakopmund on Tuesday.

The forum, first established in 2016, has been revived under the leadership of Erongo governor Nathalia /Goagoses following years of fragmented engagements that failed to produce sustained solutions.

At the centre of the relaunch is a shift towards integrated planning and implementation, aimed at aligning water supply systems across the region and addressing disparities between urban and rural areas.

Erongo Regional Council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe said the forum must deliver measurable outcomes beyond policy discussions, particularly for communities outside the coastal supply network.

“The impact of the forum must be felt on the ground by the people,” he said.

He pointed to communities such as Otjimbingwe and Okombahe, as well as small-scale miners and farmers in remote areas, as examples of those who have yet to benefit from coordinated water planning.

The relaunch comes as water demand in the Erongo Region continues to outpace supply, driven by rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and sustained mining activity.

More than 90% of the region’s population now resides in urban areas, placing increasing pressure on municipal infrastructure, while rural settlements remain constrained by limited and unreliable water access.

Officials linked this imbalance to migration trends, noting that inadequate rural supply undermines agricultural activity and pushes populations towards towns already under strain.

/Goagoses said water stress in the region has reached critical levels, with recurring supply interruptions already affecting communities.

“We are all in agreement that in our region, indeed, water is stressed,” she said.

She criticised continued silo-based approaches to water management, despite policy reforms aimed at establishing integrated systems across institutions.

Demand outstrips supply

Technical briefings at the forum highlighted a widening gap between supply and demand, with coastal consumption estimated at about 28 million cubic metres per year – exceeding current available capacity.

NamWater officials said demand growth is being driven primarily by mining operations and future uranium projects, alongside expanding urban settlements.

The region’s supply system relies on a combination of groundwater from the Omdel and Kuiseb aquifers and desalinated water from the coast.

However, ageing infrastructure, high production costs and energy instability continue to constrain output and reliability.

Despite the Erongo desalination plant having a higher installed capacity, production remains below maximum levels, while distribution infrastructure limits the ability to move water inland.

“We can build 50 desalination plants. We don’t have the ability to move… water to the entire region,” said plant manager Tommie Gouws, highlighting pipeline constraints as a major bottleneck.

At the same time, groundwater resources face increasing pressure, with warnings that over-abstraction could result in permanent damage.

NamWater chief executive Abraham Nehemia said excessive extraction risks seawater intrusion into aquifers, effectively rendering them unusable.

Water security boosts development

The relaunched forum will bring together eight local authorities, settlements, rural communities, government institutions and private sector stakeholders under a single coordination platform.

A technical committee will be established to develop evidence-based solutions, supported by subcommittees focusing on infrastructure, supply management and conservation.

Director of planning, development, monitoring and evaluation Dismon Kambatuamasa said the forum is aligned with the regional council’s mandate to coordinate socio-economic development.

“No development will take place without water,” he said, linking water security directly to mining, manufacturing and port operations in the region.

Discussions will extend beyond supply expansion to include water demand management, wastewater reuse and conservation awareness.

Stakeholders also raised concerns over fragmented institutional mandates, noting that differences between coastal and central supply systems leave some communities outside key infrastructure networks.

Officials confirmed that bulk water supply remains the responsibility of national utility structures, while rural boreholes fall under regional council oversight, contributing to coordination challenges.

Participants agreed that desalination remains the most reliable long-term source of water for the region, with additional plants planned as part of future supply expansion.

At the same time, infrastructure development, particularly pipeline networks, was identified as critical to ensuring that increased production translates into improved access across the region.

The forum is expected to prioritise investment in both production and distribution systems, alongside improved data sharing and regulatory oversight of groundwater use.

Closing the relaunch, /Goagoses emphasised the need for tangible outcomes, warning that policy alone would not resolve the crisis.

“Let us move beyond discussion to implementation… the time to act is now,” she said.