Dams supply majority of capital’s water
About 79% of Windhoek’s water demand is supplied by NamWater via surface water from dams.
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein said the total water demand for Windhoek is about 28 million cubic metres per year, of which 22 million cubic metres comes from the Von Bach Dam, Omatako Dam and Swakoppoort Dam.
About six million cubic metres is supplied by the reclamation works, which is 21% of the total demand, he said.
“When the surface water sources are depleted when dams are dry, the demand is satisfied out of groundwater sources, namely from the Karst aquifer at Grootfontein and several groundwater aquifers in and around Windhoek.”
He made these remarks at a regional association hydrology and water coordination panel meeting.
Schlettwein said with Namibia’s population growth and the resultant developments over the past 60 years, there has been an almost tenfold increase in total water demand in the country.
“Total demand stood at 583.4 million cubic metres in 2020, further increasing to 711.7 million cubic metres by 2030.”
Countrywide supply system
According to the minister, Namibia is currently rolling out a national water sector support programme to bring about an integrated water supply system countrywide.
At a cost of N$10 billion over the next five years, the system comprises of a mix of water-generation and distribution infrastructure, with the objective to provide for adequacy of water supply of acceptable quality until 2037.
However, in the geographically stretched landmass, the demand centres are often located in remote areas that are long distances away from sustainable water sources, Schlettwein said.
“A case in point here is the coastal area, which currently has a total demand of 26 million cubic metres of water, 50% of which is for domestic use by the local authorities and the remainder by mines in the area.”
He said groundwater resources avail about 14 million cubic metres of water, whereas the existing desalination plant provides 12 million cubic metres.
“With the current boom in mining activities, there the demand is estimated to almost double in the next five years, hence the need to develop additional sources; in this case, a desalination plant with an annual capacity of 20 million cubic metres.”
Agriculture minister Calle Schlettwein said the total water demand for Windhoek is about 28 million cubic metres per year, of which 22 million cubic metres comes from the Von Bach Dam, Omatako Dam and Swakoppoort Dam.
About six million cubic metres is supplied by the reclamation works, which is 21% of the total demand, he said.
“When the surface water sources are depleted when dams are dry, the demand is satisfied out of groundwater sources, namely from the Karst aquifer at Grootfontein and several groundwater aquifers in and around Windhoek.”
He made these remarks at a regional association hydrology and water coordination panel meeting.
Schlettwein said with Namibia’s population growth and the resultant developments over the past 60 years, there has been an almost tenfold increase in total water demand in the country.
“Total demand stood at 583.4 million cubic metres in 2020, further increasing to 711.7 million cubic metres by 2030.”
Countrywide supply system
According to the minister, Namibia is currently rolling out a national water sector support programme to bring about an integrated water supply system countrywide.
At a cost of N$10 billion over the next five years, the system comprises of a mix of water-generation and distribution infrastructure, with the objective to provide for adequacy of water supply of acceptable quality until 2037.
However, in the geographically stretched landmass, the demand centres are often located in remote areas that are long distances away from sustainable water sources, Schlettwein said.
“A case in point here is the coastal area, which currently has a total demand of 26 million cubic metres of water, 50% of which is for domestic use by the local authorities and the remainder by mines in the area.”
He said groundwater resources avail about 14 million cubic metres of water, whereas the existing desalination plant provides 12 million cubic metres.
“With the current boom in mining activities, there the demand is estimated to almost double in the next five years, hence the need to develop additional sources; in this case, a desalination plant with an annual capacity of 20 million cubic metres.”
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