OSHAKATI – NamWater has strongly appealed to residents of Omusati region to stop illegally drawing water from the water utility’s canals.

NamWater spokesperson Lot Ndamanomhata said on Thursday, the unauthorised drawing of water from the Calueque-Oshakati canal results in significant disruptions to planned regular supply and results in damage to the infrastructure.

He said the water utility had observed an alarming rise in the illegal practice in the area between the Ombafi and Ogongo canals, where community members draw water from the canal to fill oshanas for fishing.

“This unauthorised activity has led to a significant drop in water levels in the canal, directly affecting the raw water supply to Ogongo and Oshakati water treatment plants,” he said. The two treatment plants supply potable water to thousands of residents, and any disruption poses a serious risk to water security in the region.

In addition to depleting water levels, Ndamanomhata said people are digging trenches along the canal embankment to redirect water into the oshanas.

This severely weakens the canal’s structure, causing breaks and long-term infrastructure damage. These repeated incidents, which occur annually during the rainy season, also increase cost of repairs, water losses and further disruptions to supply.

He urged members of the public cooperate with the bulk water supplier to prevent further damage to critical water infrastructure and disruptions to water supply.

“Water is a shared resource, and protecting critical infrastructure is everyone’s responsibility,” he stressed.

–Nampa