Cabinet instructs sampling of Stampriet aquifer water
Sampling at potential new mining area
The Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association has emphasised the importance of safeguarding the aquifer water resource.
Cabinet has directed a taskforce to collect groundwater samples from the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System, according to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU).
Stretching across the Hardap region and into southern Omaheke and southeastern Khomas, the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System is the only year-round freshwater source in Namibia's dry southeast, the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (SAUMA) has emphasised.
The system faces potential pollution risks from a proposed high-risk uranium mining project employing in situ leaching.
The NAU reported receiving enquiries from producers contacted by government officials to collect borehole water samples from the Stampriet aquifer.
SAUMA said the high risks of radioactive and toxic heavy metal contamination in the drinking water require urgent action to safeguard livelihoods, wildlife, economic activities and public health.
The NAU said upon investigation, Cabinet instructed relevant ministries to collect water samples in the affected potential new mining area to determine water quality.
Ministries involved include the agriculture and water ministry, environment ministry, the mines ministry and the health ministry.
Investigation
The NAU said the investigation is expected to take place from 18 to 24 November.
“This effort determines the uranium background from the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System-wide concentrations and collects groundwater samples for radionuclide analysis at a total of thirty strategically located monitoring and production boreholes.”
The union said the main objective of the extended groundwater sampling campaign is to determine, on a regional scale, values of radionuclides, stable isotopes, major ions and trace elements/metals in groundwater throughout the Stampriet Artesian Basin and also to determine zones, with reasonable accuracy, where the uranium limits for safe drinking water may have been exceeded.
Public meetings
Furthermore, NAU said SAUMA is compelled to convene a general annual meeting with its members once a year, with the second annual meeting that took place on 13 November at Leonardville.
It said SAUMA members attended from far and wide, asking questions, making suggestions and voicing concerns.
According to the NAU, SAUMA chairperson Divan Opperman provided a concise overview of the events that led to the establishment of organisation and highlighted developments over the past year, while also outlined the activities undertaken by the SAUMA's management committee during this period.
He emphasised the importance of the current efforts by the SAUMA's management committee and the actions the organisation's members and the community must take to ensure compliance with the country's laws, including those related to government practices.
"The water source is all we have, and as a community we cannot afford to gamble with it."
Opperman further addressed the necessity of obtaining factual, objective and science-based evidence that can provide accurate information.
Stretching across the Hardap region and into southern Omaheke and southeastern Khomas, the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System is the only year-round freshwater source in Namibia's dry southeast, the Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association (SAUMA) has emphasised.
The system faces potential pollution risks from a proposed high-risk uranium mining project employing in situ leaching.
The NAU reported receiving enquiries from producers contacted by government officials to collect borehole water samples from the Stampriet aquifer.
SAUMA said the high risks of radioactive and toxic heavy metal contamination in the drinking water require urgent action to safeguard livelihoods, wildlife, economic activities and public health.
The NAU said upon investigation, Cabinet instructed relevant ministries to collect water samples in the affected potential new mining area to determine water quality.
Ministries involved include the agriculture and water ministry, environment ministry, the mines ministry and the health ministry.
Investigation
The NAU said the investigation is expected to take place from 18 to 24 November.
“This effort determines the uranium background from the Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System-wide concentrations and collects groundwater samples for radionuclide analysis at a total of thirty strategically located monitoring and production boreholes.”
The union said the main objective of the extended groundwater sampling campaign is to determine, on a regional scale, values of radionuclides, stable isotopes, major ions and trace elements/metals in groundwater throughout the Stampriet Artesian Basin and also to determine zones, with reasonable accuracy, where the uranium limits for safe drinking water may have been exceeded.
Public meetings
Furthermore, NAU said SAUMA is compelled to convene a general annual meeting with its members once a year, with the second annual meeting that took place on 13 November at Leonardville.
It said SAUMA members attended from far and wide, asking questions, making suggestions and voicing concerns.
According to the NAU, SAUMA chairperson Divan Opperman provided a concise overview of the events that led to the establishment of organisation and highlighted developments over the past year, while also outlined the activities undertaken by the SAUMA's management committee during this period.
He emphasised the importance of the current efforts by the SAUMA's management committee and the actions the organisation's members and the community must take to ensure compliance with the country's laws, including those related to government practices.
"The water source is all we have, and as a community we cannot afford to gamble with it."
Opperman further addressed the necessity of obtaining factual, objective and science-based evidence that can provide accurate information.
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