Lahja Nashuuta

Residents of Omitara settlement in Omaheke region are facing critical water shortage, as their taps have run dry, and authorities have attributed this to low water levels in local supply dams.

The settlement residents have been struggling with water woes over the past month due to insufficient inflow into the Silt Dam – one of the main dams supplying the settlement with water.

This has resulted in household taps either having no water coming out, or it is reduced to drips  due to low pressure of the water.

Gabriel Eigowab, a resident of Omitara told New Era that taps are running at low volume and the available water is not suitable for human consumption.

“There is a water crisis here. The water from the taps is brownish and smelly and not suitable for human consumption,” he said. Eigowab noted that the community has been advised not to consume the tap water but rather use it for other domestic chores such as cleaning and laundery purposes.

The Omaheke chief regional officer, Pecka Semba confirmed the water situation in Omitara, but urged the residents not to panic as measures are already being implemented to ease the situation.

Among such initiatives is the supply of water from a Namwater tanker, which however rations such water across the settlement.

“The situation is very dire because there was no water in the dam. I understand the last drops of rain that fell are slowly filling up the dam. I hope it continues to rain so that we can solve this problem once and for all,” Semba said.

Semba said Namwater has also installed water tanks in the area that are being replenished twice a week.

“So far the water has been sufficient, we have not received any complaints from members of the public since last month, although there are inconveniences, especially the fact that some people have to walk miles to access clean water,” Semba said.

Lot Ndamanomhata, Namwater head of public relations and corporate communications, also confirmed water shortage at the settlement and surrounding areas.

Ndamonomhata assured the resident that NamWater is working to address the water crisis in Omitara and surrounding areas. 

“We are supplying drinking water to the community through water trucks from the Airport area to assist the community, Ndamonomhata.

He said NamWater had previously installed three drinking water tanks for use during the drought. They have since added four more, bringing the total to seven strategically placed tanks.

“NamWater remains committed to supporting the Omitara community and will be working closely with the community leaders to ensure that water supply arrangements are as effective as possible. The community leaders will play a vital role in keeping us informed about tank levels and other needs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Semba has revealed the government’s plan to drill boreholes in the area to address water shortage in the future.

The drilling of boreholes is the long-term solution for the settlement.

“We are going to take it up in our management meetings to slowly move towards drilling more boreholes,” Semba said.

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