WINDHOEK – The Katima Mulilo Town Council has come up with a plan to drill boreholes in its suburbs as a long-term measure to mitigate its water woes.
Three boreholes were drilled in Cowboy, Chotto and Mahohoma as the first phase of the project that has so far cost ratepayers in the north-eastern town some N$402 000.
The town council technician Mukela Mukela said the cost of each borehole varies according to its geographic location and the accessibility of ground water. He added that the town council decided to come with such measures because the town does not have back-up plans if there is a supply failure.
He said the water reservoir constructed 30 years ago caters only for a certain segment of the growing population at the town.
“We solely rely on the Zambezi River as our main source of water and we had to come up with another plan for the town’s inhabitants in case the river is contaminated due to natural hazards. Another thing is with the new alternative we will try to curb the high water tariffs of which consumers complain and the high debt to Namibia
Water Corporation (Namwater) which we are still struggling to settle,” Mukela told New Era upon inquriy.
However though the boreholes are now in place they cannot be used for normal daily water supply as stipulated in the Water Act (12) of 1997 that says Namwater is the commercial entity supplying water in bulk to industries and municipalities.
“We as the town council have to be legally approved by Namwater to supply water to residents provided the water is to consumable standards,” stated Mukela.
By Obrein Simasiku