ETAKA - Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) on Saturday pumped water from Olushandja South wall outlet into the Etaka-Uuvudhiya earth canal, which stretches over130 kilometres.

The raw water is only fit for livestock and agriculture purposes.

NamWater CEO Abraham Nehemia said the exercise was done due to previous and recurrent drought reported in the northern part of the country.

He said the Office of the Prime Minister had allocated N$3 million to ensure the completion of the project.

“Households are expected to utilise the water for their daily needs, especially gardening for nutritional purposes,” Nehemia said.

He added that they are confident the water will be available in the dam to supply the canal until the rainy season.

Nehemia also indicated that they are expecting the new pumps at Calueque to be commissioned soon, adding that NamWater is strategically looking into the rehabilitation of most of its infrastructure in order to ensure sustainable water supply up to the year 2037 as a planning horizon.

Speaking during the same occasion, Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said for the past five years they did not really receive sufficient rainfall, which has affected many people living alongside the west side of the canal, including Oshana and Oshikoto regions.

Endjala said the water that is now flowing in the canal is a game changer for people living along the waterway, as their livestock will have water throughout the dry season.

He urged community members to guard against the vandalism of the canal. 

- Nampa