Niël Terblanché
Namibia’s national water utility has assured residents of Okakarara and surrounding areas that it is busy with restoring consistent water supply after disruptions caused by issues with the Okakarara-Elandspan pipeline.
The temporary shutdown of the water transfer from Kombat Mine on September 10 disrupted the water supply to Okakarara and nearby areas like Ombinda and Elandspan, according to Lot Ndamanomhata, NamWater’s spokesperson, on Monday.
“This measure was taken by NamWater to manage energy costs,” he said.
The water supply to Okakarara is sourced from the Grootfontein-Kombat Omatako canal system and processed at the Okakarara purification plant.
This facility provides water to both the town and the surrounding rural communities, making it an essential resource for the region.
Ndamanomhata said the shutdown significantly reduced the flow of water to the Okakarara purification plant, which in turn affected the Elandspan pipeline, causing lower reservoir levels.
“Although water transfer resumed on 12 September, inconsistencies persisted for several days, and the water supply only began to stabilise on 19 September,” he said.
Ndamanomhata said that during this period, residents experienced fluctuations in water availability, creating uncertainty within the affected communities.
He also reassured the residents of Okakarara, Ombinda, Elandspan, and the wider area that they are working tirelessly to stabilise water pressure and supply levels.
“Technical teams have been deployed to address the situation, and NamWater is closely monitoring the system to ensure that reservoir levels meet the community’s water needs. We appreciate the community’s patience and cooperation during this challenging time,” he said while adding that NamWater will continue to provide regular updates on the situation.
In addition to the disruptions in Okakarara, NamWater also faced water supply challenges in the Ohangwena Region due to a power outage on 22 September.
“The outage, which occurred at approximately 19:00, impacted NamWater’s ability to pump water from Omakango to Omafo, affecting the entire Ohangwena Region, except Eenhana Town,” he said.
According to Ndamanomhata, NamWater has since resumed pumping water to Omafo, which currently stands at 22% capacity.
He said that once pumping levels reach 45%, NamWater will begin supplying water to the affected areas.
Ndamanomhata reaffirmed that the corporation is closely collaborating with NORED to comprehensively address the power supply issue and expedite the restoration of water services.
Ndamanomhata acknowledged the disruptions’ impact and apologized to the people of Okakarara and the Ohangwena Region.
“We are committed to resolving these issues swiftly and are taking steps to prevent future interruptions,” he said.
He added that NamWater is focused on implementing effective solutions and maintaining open communication with all stakeholders to ensure a stable and reliable water supply.
