Otavi Town Council Chief Executive Officer Wodibo Haulofu has called out NamWater for installing a water metre at the Otavi fountain.

Haulofu expressed his dissatisfaction during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources and Community Development hearing.

Otavi owes NamWater N$55 million.

The town has been getting its water from the fountain since 1987; however, NamWater has put up a structure with eight valves.

One of these leads to Otavi Town Council and seven to a private farm.

The town council is contemplating charging NamWater for the land on which its facility is located.

Of the water provided by NamWater, Haulofu says the Otavi Town Council only uses about 40%, as 61% is water loss.

He says even if historic debts by the residents are written off, it will still leave the town council owing NamWater millions of dollars.

Otavi Mayor Isaac Hoaeb says that despite Otavi having a natural water resource, residents are not benefiting from it.

NamWater indicated that Otjiwarongo Municipality owes it N$11 million, which the acting Chief Executive Officer, Erikson Mwayekange, disputed.

Mwayekange wants historic debts written off.