OMUTHIYA – Desalination plants and reverse osmosis systems will be constructed in the Oshikoto region to provide a permanent solution to water shortages affecting households, livestock and agriculture.

The projects are expected to take three to four months to complete, with construction set to begin after the rainy season and finish before August this year.

Last week, Oshikoto Governor Sacky Kathindi, accompanied by officials from NamWater, the Oshikoto Regional Council and the KWF Foundation, inspected several boreholes in King Nehale LyaMpingana, Cham-Cham village and Oshivelo to assess the water situation.

Kathindi said Oshikoto’s underground water is largely saline, necessitating the use of desalination plants and reverse osmosis systems to make it fit for human and agricultural use.

“Oshikoto is a dry region with saline underground water. We have therefore opted for desalination plants and reverse osmosis systems to remove the salt. The extracted salt will be used for aquaculture. Without water, our dream of food security cannot be realised,” he said.

He added that the planned desalination plants will operate off-grid and will not require electricity. Each borehole will also be linked to an offtake pipeline of between five and 10 kilometres to supply potable water to communities and livestock.

“Within a short period of time, water scarcity in Oshikoto will be over,” he said.

Oshikoto Head of Rural Water Supply, Stephenson Tuukondjele said government, through NamWater, will construct the Omutsegonime-King Kauluma water supply project at Oshivelo, where two boreholes have good quality water.

“The pipeline will supply water from Oshivelo to Omutsegonime and Omuthiya, with branches into rural communities to eliminate water scarcity,” he said.

Tuukondjele said the three inspected boreholes will support community gardens, household consumption and livestock watering.

The team will also visit Elambo and other villages to identify sites for desalination facilities, with the first plants earmarked for the Olundje and Evale villages.

“We aim to secure these desalination projects as soon as the rainy season ends, targeting completion before August. It takes three to four months to set up the facilities,” he said. Tuukondjele urged communities to remain patient, saying the government is working to address the region’s water challenges. -Nampa