Dams empty
Desperate Namibians are watching the skies, praying that the devastating drought will be broken at last.
Although several parts of the country have started receiving life-saving rains, the average level of Namibia's dams has dropped to below 20%.
At the same time last year the country's dams were 23.3% full.
The weather office has warned that storms are likely today in the Kavango, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Erongo and Khomas regions, spreading to the northeast on Thursday and Friday.
Flash floods are also likely in these regions.
According to the latest dam bulletin, the total level of the dams in central Namibia stood at 14.7% on Monday, compared to last season's 25.1%.
The Swakoppoort Dam is currently 5.2% full (25.6% last year). The Von Bach Dam is at 34.1% (41.6% last year), and the Omatako Dam is empty.
The small Friedenau Dam, which was 31.6% full last year, is currently at 21.4%.
Windhoek's polluted Goreangab Dam, whose water cannot be used, is 91% full (last year 90.6%).
In the Gobabis area the Otjivero Main Dam is at 1.6% of its capacity, the Tilda Viljoen Dam is 0.2% full and the Daan Viljoen Dam is empty. Last season the water level of these dams stood at 5.7%, 9.2% and 11.4% respectively.
In the South the Hardap Dam has now reached a critically low level of 9%. Last season the Hardap Dam was 38.3% full.
An agreement has been reached between NamWater and farmers at the Hardap irrigation scheme to cut water consumption by 40%. Without any new inflow soon, production of fodder and vegetables at the scheme will have to be suspended.
The Naute Dam at Keetmanshoop is 73.1% full, in comparison to last season when it was 70% full.
The level of the Oanob Dam at Rehoboth stands at 40.3%, (last season 60.6%) and the Dreihuk and Bondels dams are empty.
The same situation can be seen at the Omaruru Delta Dam in the Erongo Region and the Omatjene Dam in the Otjozondjupa Region.
The Olushandja Dam in the Oshana Region is 19.8% full (last season 21.2%).
ELLANIE SMIT
At the same time last year the country's dams were 23.3% full.
The weather office has warned that storms are likely today in the Kavango, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Omaheke, Erongo and Khomas regions, spreading to the northeast on Thursday and Friday.
Flash floods are also likely in these regions.
According to the latest dam bulletin, the total level of the dams in central Namibia stood at 14.7% on Monday, compared to last season's 25.1%.
The Swakoppoort Dam is currently 5.2% full (25.6% last year). The Von Bach Dam is at 34.1% (41.6% last year), and the Omatako Dam is empty.
The small Friedenau Dam, which was 31.6% full last year, is currently at 21.4%.
Windhoek's polluted Goreangab Dam, whose water cannot be used, is 91% full (last year 90.6%).
In the Gobabis area the Otjivero Main Dam is at 1.6% of its capacity, the Tilda Viljoen Dam is 0.2% full and the Daan Viljoen Dam is empty. Last season the water level of these dams stood at 5.7%, 9.2% and 11.4% respectively.
In the South the Hardap Dam has now reached a critically low level of 9%. Last season the Hardap Dam was 38.3% full.
An agreement has been reached between NamWater and farmers at the Hardap irrigation scheme to cut water consumption by 40%. Without any new inflow soon, production of fodder and vegetables at the scheme will have to be suspended.
The Naute Dam at Keetmanshoop is 73.1% full, in comparison to last season when it was 70% full.
The level of the Oanob Dam at Rehoboth stands at 40.3%, (last season 60.6%) and the Dreihuk and Bondels dams are empty.
The same situation can be seen at the Omaruru Delta Dam in the Erongo Region and the Omatjene Dam in the Otjozondjupa Region.
The Olushandja Dam in the Oshana Region is 19.8% full (last season 21.2%).
ELLANIE SMIT
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