Isabel Bento
OMARURU – The Omaruru Town Council needs an estimated N$28 million to upgrade water infrastructure in informal settlements, as it seeks to address ageing systems and rising demand for services.
The Council’s CEO, Valentinus Sindongo, said in a recent interview with Nampa that the funding is critical to improve water access in underserved areas, where infrastructure remains inadequate.
Omaruru, like other towns in the Erongo region, has in recent years faced recurring water supply challenges linked to drought, ageing infrastructure and rapid urbanisation.
Despite these pressures, Sindongo said the town’s overall water supply has stabilised following drought-related disruptions experienced in September 2024.
“We managed to drill six additional boreholes, which significantly improved supply. One of the highest-producing boreholes yields about 158 litres per hour, and currently, we are stable when it comes to water,” he said.
Access in informal settlements, however, remains uneven.
“We have installed standpipes in some areas, but vandalism is a serious issue. Residents sometimes damage these facilities at night, leading to water losses,” Sindongo said.
He added that the council has intensified efforts to curb illegal water connections, which had previously affected water pressure in parts of the town.
“We are receiving daily and monthly reports to track leakages and illegal connections. Since 2023, we have managed to significantly reduce these incidents,” he said.
Ageing infrastructure also continues to place pressure on the system, with many pipelines reportedly made of asbestos, which is no longer considered suitable.
“These systems are old and costly to replace. We are therefore prioritising upgrades in phases, starting with main lines, but funding remains a major constraint,” Sindongo added.
He said the council continues to engage central government for support while implementing interim measures to sustain supply.
Previous reports by Nampa have highlighted similar challenges in towns such as Usakos and Karibib, where limited bulk infrastructure and vandalism of communal water points have undermined supply reliability.
The Erongo Regional Council has also acknowledged water supply and infrastructure constraints across the region, saying growing demand in both formal and informal settlements is placing existing systems under strain.
The Council has recently tabled its budget and is awaiting approval from the line ministry, with water and infrastructure among the issues it intends to address.
At national level, government has prioritised water security through borehole drilling and infrastructure upgrades, although funding constraints continue to delay the large-scale replacement of outdated systems.
-Nampa