NamWater says slow rains are trouble

A statement released last week by the Namibia Water Corporation Ltd (NamWater), and the City of Windhoek (CoW), said slow rainfall in Namibia poses a threat to the water supply in the Central Area of Namibia (CAN).CAN is supplied with water primarily from an integrated water supply system consisting of three interconnected dams (Omatako (0.0), Von Bach (13.0), and Swakoppoort dams). According to a flood update from the Hydrological services recently, the dam levels of the three aforementioned dams, last Monday, stood at 0.0%, 13.0%, and 44.4% respectively. On the same day, the collective water level in the three dams&#039; system was recorded at 22.2% of their combined full supply capacity compared to 39.9% at the same time in 2023.“The aforementioned supply system is heavily dependent on favorable climate conditions (i.e. rainfall and associated runoff) in a region with highly variable climatic conditions. The water supply system is further supplemented with water from the Windhoek Aquifer (boreholes) and the New Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant (operated by WINGOC) as part of critical interventions aimed at breaching water supply shortfalls in the supply area and in particular to the capital city,” NamWater said. In addition, NamWater says uninterrupted water supply from multiple water sources has made it possible to continue the operations at CAN. Alternative measures NamWater during its 2023 annual stakeholders&#039; workshop, adopted strategies to ensure water supply security to CAN cover at least the next two rainy seasons.“These strategies included Water Demand Management, comprising a 10% reduction in water consumption (Category C Water Demand Management) and predicted water inflow into the three supply dams according to the long-term observed statistical model. With the rainy season underway and the end of January approaching, no water inflow into any of the three dams has been recorded. Unfortunately, aided by exceptionally high temperatures since October 2023, water consumption has been consistently above the savings target, further depleting available water stock faster than predicted,” the statement added. Furthermore, NamWater warns that the persistence of the poor rainy season experienced indicates that the breaching of two rainy seasons may no longer be possible. “This has potentially serious repercussions for the water supply in the CAN, and further Water Demand Management measures may be warranted,” they said. The total content of the country&#039;s major dams stood at 57.8% last week. The water levels in the major dams are currently lower compared to the two previous rainy seasons. TROUBLE: Von Bach Dam. PHOTO FILE

NamWater says slow rains are trouble

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