Mallex Shipanga
Sewage water has flooded the streets of the Kuisebmund residential area in Walvis Bay.
This is particularly evident at the intersection of David Hambunda Street and Nathanael Maxuilili Street, which are the streets directly opposite the Kuisebmund stadium.
Kuisebmund resident, Efraim Nanghama took to social media complaining about the sewage floods.
“The place is overpopulated. We now have 100 000 residents living in Kuisebmund. A house that was made to accommodate one family now has 20 shacks. That’s why we have this kind of problem,” Nanghama said.
The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) in its 2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report estimates Walvis Bay’s population to be 102 704.
The sewage backflow has been occurring for years, causing streets such as Maraboe and Hematiet to be flooded with sewage water.
Sewage water often traps tenants in backyard shacks.
According to a statement issued on the Walvis Bay Municipality social media platforms, the sewage overflows are a result of a sewer blockage at the Liquid Waste Section in Sandwich Street.
The municipality said the sewage maintenance teams are working on addressing the continuous issues caused by blocked manholes.
“The maintenance and operation team are currently on site to clear the blockage and the section will proceed to pick up the overflow and disinfect the affected area,” the municipality said.
It went on to explain that the disposal of non-flushable items typically causes these sewer blockages, leading to sewage overflows and water interruptions in the sewage system.
To prevent sewer overflows, the municipality reminds residents to avoid flushing baby wipes, cigarettes, condoms, cotton swabs, diapers, needles, paper towels, and tampons down the toilets.
“The cooperation of residents is essential in maintaining the functionality of our infrastructure and ensuring a clean and safe environment for all,” the municipality said.
If a blockage affects two or more houses in a particular street, the blockage must be reported to an emergency blockage line at 081 128 8324.
The sewage infrastructure at Walvis Bay dates back to the colonial era.
Contractor John Elago explained that local authorities can better respond to sewage overflows by upgrading sewage infrastructure with the use of proper town planning.
“The council has to have a plan to handle the inflow of new people,” Elago said.
“The sewage system should be upgraded by putting in bigger pipes so that we don’t experience the same problems going forward,” he added.
Elago also spoke about the health impacts of sewage overflows.
“The sewage overflows are very dangerous to the whole community because it can cause illness breakouts. Then, you sit with a huge health crisis in the whole town,” he said.
