Agriculture, Water and Forestry Minister John Mutorwa has expressed concern about polluting the Swakoppoort Dam. Presenting the ministry's report on an assessment of the water supply in the Erongo Region on Friday, Mutorwa said water from the Swakoppoort Dam was covered with algae which is a clear sign of pollution. The dam is located some 50 kilometres west of Okahandja in the Otjozondjupa Region and has a capacity of 63-million cubic metres. It is one of the three major dams that supply water to Windhoek. The other two dams are Von Bach and Omatako, but with no inflow due to the drought, water levels in the dams have reached worrying proportions. Mutorwa encouraged the Upper Swakopmund Basin Committee to increase awareness about the increasing danger of water pollution. Earlier this year, NamWater also warned that blue and green algae is an increasing threat to the quality of the water in the Swakoppoort Dam and could lead to its closure. With regards to the water supply to the coastal towns, Mutorwa said the ministry and NamWater have been tasked to look into the possibility of providing more water from the Omdel and Kuiseb River aquifers. This will be in addition to the existing supply of the Areva desalination plant to both towns and neighbouring uranium mines. The Minister used the opportunity to urge Namibians and visitors to save water during and even after the drought period.