WINDHOEK – Dams from which the City of Windhoek (CoW) draws its water could run dry within 14 months if sufficient inflows are not received this rainy season.
This was the warning issued by both the CoW and a Namwater official at a media briefing in the capital yesterday.
CoW manager for corporate affairs, Joshua Amukugo, said the city’s boreholes and reclamation plant cannot sustain the city’s supply without the 65 percent of water that is usually supplied by Namwater.
The current water levels of the three major dams supplying the capital are critically low. As of this week Monday, the dams stood at: Omatako – 1.2 percent of dam capacity, Von Bach – 34.8 percent and Swakoppoort at 36.8 percent.
“It is imperative to note the levels of dams supplying the central area are very, very low,” said Amukugo, stressing that there is no reason for panic yet, but that it is necessary for consumers to use less water.
“It is clear if no sufficient rain is received within this rainy season to obtain sufficient overflow into the dams, severe restrictions will need to be enforced,” he said.
According to the prediction by Namwater officials, Von Bach Dam will run dry by June 17 while Swakoppoort by July 31 2016, with the expectation that clients in these areas comply with 10 percent demand management.
Amukugo appealed to residents in the city “to save water at all times, whenever you find yourself, be it at the office, school. Let us all bear in mind that we are facing a critical stage that could be disastrous if not handled with caution.”
“We would like to call on residents again to conserve water and help spread the message,” he added.
CoW earlier this year issued its first water alert, requesting residents to cut their water consumption by at least 10 percent.