NamWater project: Rundu’s last hope for sufficient water
Rundu activist Frans Moyo has raised concerns that despite the Rundu Town Council’s efforts to tackle the town’s long-standing water crisis, the issue remains unresolved.
Moyo pointed to the N$665 million NamWater state-of-the-art treatment plant extension as the only beacon of hope for addressing the growing demand for clean water.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Monday, Moyo said that the Long to Long informal settlement remains heavily impacted by the crisis. “There are ideas of bringing the pipe down from the borehole on the side of Long to Long, possibly to assist some of the people in between. However, the reality is that it remains a challenge. The only hope now seems to be the project by the river, which might complement the entire situation,” he said.
Moyo highlighted that while the challenge persists, complaints from residents have somewhat subsided, which he attributed to the adaptation of affected communities and the anticipation of a permanent solution. “People are patiently waiting to see what happens. However, if the situation drags on for much longer, they will undoubtedly start complaining again, as the issue has not yet been fully resolved,” he warned.
Urgency
During the groundbreaking ceremony for NamWater’s water treatment plant in July last year, agriculture and water minister Calle Schlettwein acknowledged the growing challenge of providing adequate and quality water to Rundu and its suburbs. “The existing scheme is old and currently running at maximum capacity, compromising its ability to supply quality potable water. Importantly, the water distribution network of Rundu loses almost 50% of the water through leakages, making the system highly insufficient and costly,” Schlettwein said.
The minister underlined the urgency of addressing Rundu’s ageing infrastructure, which has exceeded its economic lifespan and struggles to meet the town’s expanding needs.
“Our access to potable water supply currently stands at 87% nationally. We are committed to closing the gap and extending water supply to the remaining 13% in the shortest possible time,” he added.
In May last year, residents of Ndama’s Sun City and Long to Long settlements revealed they had been without potable water since September 2023.
Desperate, they resorted to cutting pipes to access water, a practice that has since stopped following the town council’s intervention with temporary solutions, such as deploying water tankers.
Warnings ignored
Rundu’s water crisis, which has left thousands without a reliable supply, was foreseen years ago but largely ignored. Earlier reports projected that Rundu would face severe water shortages by 2020 unless infrastructure upgrades were undertaken. Those projections have now become a harsh reality, with the town’s growing population outpacing its ageing water systems.
At a meeting held late last year with urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga acknowledged that the town’s water issues have reached a critical point. “Rundu’s water issue revolves around a rapidly growing population, growing faster than the infrastructure we currently have. Starting from the riverside and the reservoir, the existing infrastructure is not keeping up with the population’s needs,” Kanyanga said.
“When I reviewed previous reports, it was clear that by 2020, Rundu could face water challenges. Unfortunately, those projections have come true,” he said.
To alleviate the crisis, Kanyanga proposed drilling boreholes in the hardest-hit areas, including Ndama, Sunshine and Sauyemwa.
However, the process has stalled due to financial constraints. “In collaboration with the water ministry, we identified 21 potential sites for boreholes. After inspections, it was confirmed that drilling in these areas would help alleviate the water shortages. However, the process is currently on hold due to financial constraints. We are hopeful that funding will soon be secured to proceed with the boreholes. Once completed, they will offer a short-term solution to the crisis,” Kanyanga said at the time.
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Moyo pointed to the N$665 million NamWater state-of-the-art treatment plant extension as the only beacon of hope for addressing the growing demand for clean water.
Speaking to Namibian Sun on Monday, Moyo said that the Long to Long informal settlement remains heavily impacted by the crisis. “There are ideas of bringing the pipe down from the borehole on the side of Long to Long, possibly to assist some of the people in between. However, the reality is that it remains a challenge. The only hope now seems to be the project by the river, which might complement the entire situation,” he said.
Moyo highlighted that while the challenge persists, complaints from residents have somewhat subsided, which he attributed to the adaptation of affected communities and the anticipation of a permanent solution. “People are patiently waiting to see what happens. However, if the situation drags on for much longer, they will undoubtedly start complaining again, as the issue has not yet been fully resolved,” he warned.
Urgency
During the groundbreaking ceremony for NamWater’s water treatment plant in July last year, agriculture and water minister Calle Schlettwein acknowledged the growing challenge of providing adequate and quality water to Rundu and its suburbs. “The existing scheme is old and currently running at maximum capacity, compromising its ability to supply quality potable water. Importantly, the water distribution network of Rundu loses almost 50% of the water through leakages, making the system highly insufficient and costly,” Schlettwein said.
The minister underlined the urgency of addressing Rundu’s ageing infrastructure, which has exceeded its economic lifespan and struggles to meet the town’s expanding needs.
“Our access to potable water supply currently stands at 87% nationally. We are committed to closing the gap and extending water supply to the remaining 13% in the shortest possible time,” he added.
In May last year, residents of Ndama’s Sun City and Long to Long settlements revealed they had been without potable water since September 2023.
Desperate, they resorted to cutting pipes to access water, a practice that has since stopped following the town council’s intervention with temporary solutions, such as deploying water tankers.
Warnings ignored
Rundu’s water crisis, which has left thousands without a reliable supply, was foreseen years ago but largely ignored. Earlier reports projected that Rundu would face severe water shortages by 2020 unless infrastructure upgrades were undertaken. Those projections have now become a harsh reality, with the town’s growing population outpacing its ageing water systems.
At a meeting held late last year with urban and rural development minister Erastus Uutoni, Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga acknowledged that the town’s water issues have reached a critical point. “Rundu’s water issue revolves around a rapidly growing population, growing faster than the infrastructure we currently have. Starting from the riverside and the reservoir, the existing infrastructure is not keeping up with the population’s needs,” Kanyanga said.
“When I reviewed previous reports, it was clear that by 2020, Rundu could face water challenges. Unfortunately, those projections have come true,” he said.
To alleviate the crisis, Kanyanga proposed drilling boreholes in the hardest-hit areas, including Ndama, Sunshine and Sauyemwa.
However, the process has stalled due to financial constraints. “In collaboration with the water ministry, we identified 21 potential sites for boreholes. After inspections, it was confirmed that drilling in these areas would help alleviate the water shortages. However, the process is currently on hold due to financial constraints. We are hopeful that funding will soon be secured to proceed with the boreholes. Once completed, they will offer a short-term solution to the crisis,” Kanyanga said at the time.
[email protected]
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