ONESI – The Constituency Councillor for Onesi in Omusati Region Titus Kanyele is pleading for patience from the community over water distribution, saying the constituency office is aware of the inadequate water supply in his constituency. The community drink sour water from boreholes they themselves have drilled
“The issue of the lack of tap water in the constituency is not new, however our office is trying all it can to ensure the community has access to clean tap water,” said Kanyele.
Community members from Olwaadhiya village in Onesi constituency told New Era they drink “sour water” from their self-drilled boreholes. The water is likely to be contaminated because the boreholes have no proper closure.
“The water from the borehole is not safe to use. It is exposed to wind that brings along lizards, snakes, small insects as well as rubbish from the surroundings. If an animal is spotted in the borehole we remove it and if it’s not it rots in the borehole but for us it’s business as usual; we continue drinking from it,” the community said.
Additionally, even infants are fed and bathed in the water from the boreholes. The community revealed that although they are now used to the water, they feel tired and strained after using the borehole water.
They are pleading with the government through the constituency councillor to build pipes and taps for them to have access to clean water, alluding that they do not know the taste of clean water.
Olwaadhiya village only has one tap that is not accessible to the whole community leaving the rest of the community to drink water from the two boreholes in the village.
“We do not know the taste of clean water. When will we also have access to tap water? It is not easy to boil the water to be used in the household and getting water treatment [tablets] is another big task as we have to walk up to 15km to the nearest clinic,” said one community member.
Councillor Kanyele however appealed to his constituency community to be patient and recognise the efforts made so far.
Kanyele said a large part of his constituency does not have access to clean water but his office was working hard to ensure that everyone has access to tap water.
The councillor said the villagers may rest assured that they will have access to tap water in the near future as they form part of the Ruacana South Project that is currently conducting a survey of where to place water points in the constituency.
By Nuusita Ashipala