The residents at Omatjete settlement in the Erongo Region continue to suffer from a water shortage, and Senior Councillor Fabianus Uaseupuani has now called on the regional office to fast-track a pipeline project that can temporarily solve the problem.

Lazarus Ngairo said the water crisis at Omatjete, a settlement in rural Erongo, has been worsened by the drought of the past seven years.

After underground water sources decreased, only one borehole remained operational to provide water to the community.

A water truck transports water from other areas to Omatjete about three days a week to meet the demand.

Residents, however, say it is not enough because their tanks are not filled to capacity.

This situation has jeopardized lessons at the public school, which accommodates over 300 learners.

"Sometimes we cancel school days because there isn't enough water; sometimes we ask the kids to bring water in small containers at least so they can manage from 7 to 1 o'clock; it's a serious problem. Some young teachers are also leaving because they cannot live in a place without running water for toilets," added Ngario.

The general hygiene at the health center is also under threat, as the taps are without running water.

Olga Tjiposa, Omatjete's registered nurse, stated, "Patients are supposed to wash their hands repeatedly after toilet use and before toilet use, so those things are now compromised because there is no running water. We now collect from the tanks with containers and keep them; we have a storeroom where we keep our containers, as well as some buckets that we put in our toilets because patients may come with vomiting or other symptoms, or they may want to relieve themselves; this is how we are coping."

A senior councillor in the Zeraua Traditional Authority, Fabianus Uaseuapuani, said a tender to put up a 30-kilometer pipeline to transport water to Omatjete was advertised four months ago, but no company has been awarded the project yet.

"Procurement processes are killing us. That is killing us, and really, there is no water. You can try any tap here, and you will not find any water. That's why we are saying that the regional office, which is maintaining these projects, must fast-track them so that we can at least have water early next year."

The traditional authorities further called on the government to come up with a permanent solution to the water crisis.

A second seawater desalination plant has been approved for construction near Swakopmund to solve the water crisis in Daures.