The Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) will ration water supply from March 7–10, 2023, due to an upgrade of the raw water pumps at the Oshakati Water Treatment Plant and distribution system.

In a notice for stakeholders and customers in the Oshana, Ohangwena, and Oshikoto regions on Friday, NamWater states that the rationing of water supply will take place between 22h00 and 05h00 during the four-day period.

This is necessary to build up reserve capacity to sustain supply to critical customers, the report said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, in conjunction with NamWater and the African Development Bank, will implement a water support program for bulk water supply.

The program's completion will cost N$4.8 billion.

The intervention program will focus on the upgrading of the existing water infrastructure, the construction of new ones, the management of water sources, and the enhancement of trans-boundary water cooperation.

Okakarara Town Council has been sending estimated water bills, and this is causing inaccurate meter readings.

Over the years the Okakarara Town Council has been buying bulk water from NamWater filled with limescale.

Limescale is a result of hard water filled with minerals including calcium, carbonate, magnesium and manganese.

Although the water is not harmful for human consumption, it causes damage to pipes and causes inaccurate meter readings.

All dams in Namibia are at 71.4% capacity. This represents a drop of 0.4% from the 71.8% recorded last week.

This information is contained in Namwater's Weekly Dam Bulletin. 

The bulletin indicates that Windhoek dams recorded the highest volume of 83.2%, with the Goreangab Dam standing at 100% capacity while Friedenau Dam is at 74.2%.

The southern dams have a total volume of 80.3%, with the Neckartal Dam recording the highest volume of 94.1% and the Naute Dam at 77%, while the Bondels Dam is empty.

Namwater has completed the construction of the water canal at a cost of N$93.5 million.

The construction of a 5.8-kilometer canal, which stretches from Omahenene to Olushandja in the Omusati Region, commenced in February last year.

The project is part of the reconstruction of the entire water canal, which measures about 150 kilometers from Omahenene to Oshakati in the Oshana Region.

According to Namwater’s Weekly Dam Bulletin, as of Monday this week, most dams in Namibia are filled to 74.9% of full capacity.

This is a drop of 0.3% in water levels from the 75.2% full capacity recorded last week.

This is despite the country receiving some good rains recently.

The bulletin indicated that Windhoek dams recorded the highest volume of 86.7%, with the Goreangab Dam standing at 99% of full capacity and the Friedenau Dam at 79.8%.

Plans are underway to drill two boreholes at the Tsumkwe settlement as the influx of people continues to put pressure on the authorities to provide basic services such as water and sanitation.

This was revealed by regional councillor Johannes Haufiku, who stated that the boreholes would provide much-needed relief to the more than 5,000 people who live there.

At the moment, the water is sparingly shared from six boreholes, whose water pressure also serves the two government schools with a population of 1200 learners and 42 teachers.

International aid organisation Life Needs Water has come on board to help resolve the recurring water crisis at the Aus Settlement in the ||Kharas Region. 

Currently, about 1,200 Aus residents have their water rationed due to underground water depletion.

A delegation from "Life Needs Water", which specialises in constructing wells in Africa, this week went on an inspection visit to the settlement.

NamWater officials and the Regional Councillor for Namiǂnus, where the settlement is located, accompanied them.

Namwater has announced water interruption and rationing to the Oshana, Oshikoto and Ohangwena regions from 20 September until 04 October. #NBCNews #nbcDSTV282 #nbcdigitalnews

Popular Democratic Movement MP in the National Assembly Elma Dienda says Namwater should only write off the debts of local authorities that cannot afford to pay while those that have the capacity should do so.

#NBCNews #nbcDSTV282 #nbcdigitalnews