Oshakati Town Council has commenced with the first phase of the construction of a new sewer treatment plant aimed at resolving the persistent effluent discharge around town.

The project, valued at N$6.9 million, has been awarded to Mediate Trading Enterprises JV Kores Construction. 

Oshakati Mayor Leonard Hango explained the importance of this project. "Oshakati has been struggling with sewer water disposal for a long time due to the influx of housing development in the area, which has led to an increase in the volume of wastewater from these homes being directed to our sewer ponds. Our sewer ponds were just designed for a specific number of houses that were there by that time, so his expansion of housing in Oshakati triggered the need for a treatment plant for sewer water to ensure suitable disposal of this effluent."

Once water is treated, it can be used for agricultural purposes and help farmers to set up gardens.

Hango is, however, disappointed by some residents who continue to vandalise the sewer pond fence to catch fish in the contaminated water. Fish caught from the sewage ponds are unfit for human consumption.

The council has also embarked on the construction of ground reservoirs and elevated water towers at Evululuko and Okandjengedhi South.

The sites were handed over in September of this year, with each project valued at N$10 million.

The reservoir projects form part of Oshakati's informal settlement upgrade initiative and will increase the storage capacity of treated water for distribution. 

In addition, the elevated towers are expected to boost water pressure across the distribution network.

"The ground reservoir will help us to store water that is coming from the NamWater purification plant for distribution, and the elevated tower will help to boost pressure into the distribution lines. Many times this part of the town experiences low pressures within its reticulation network, and we are hoping to boost that up so that we do not have that problem anymore."