The Otavi Town Council has been unable to honour its municipal payments obligations, the town Council says this is a result of ever-increasing water tariffs by NAMWATER. Otavi owes the water utility more than N$23 million. The town's Mayor Goerge Garab in an interview with NBC News stated that prior to independence, the town used to get free water from the fountain situated at a nearby private farm but NAMWATER has now placed a water meter there.