EXTENDED SUPPLY To accommodate future water needs, the Otjimbingwe piped water project is designed to have the capacity to supply neighbouring resettlement farms, as well as the local community
Namibia’s N$130-million piped water supply project for the Otjimbingwe settlement, in the Erongo region in central Namibia, is on track for completion early next year. The project was launched in August last year by Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa.
The project, which is expected to supply water to Otjimbingwe from the Swakoppoort dam through the Karibib water treatment plant, is part of the government’s efforts to meet the United Nations’ (UN’s) Millennium Development Goal target of halving the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.
Currently, State-owned water company Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) supplies bulk water to Otjimbingwe and several farming posts throughout the 92 000 ha communal area.
NamWater CEO Vaino Shivute says an investigation by the company revealed serious water shortages in the Otjimbingwe area, which was brought to the attention of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.
Shivute notes that the conditions of the boreholes and borehole installations are poor, while some are not operational at all. “Most groundwater sources are stressed and fail to meet the current demand,” he says.
Shivute adds that the groundwater sources in the area will not be able to cope with future demand as a result of infrequent recharging of the groundwater and overabstraction of the aquifer.
“The process to supply the community with high-quality water has started and the objective is to improve the security of water supply through a system of new bulk water pipelines, pumpstations and storage reservoirs,” he concludes.